Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30—NIV)

Read Matthew 6:25–34.

Worry is "taking responsibility we were never intended to have" and "worry is to the mind what poison is to the body." When you need a little perspective as you are tossing about with worry, put yourself to a little test. Try to remember what made you sleepless this time last year.

Because we are finite, thoughtful, and conscious of consequences to our behavior, we find ourselves wrestling with things we cannot control. If there is something we should be doing, we better get to it! If there is something we should not be doing, we better stop it! Your unsettledness is then not really worry; it is a guilty conscience, which requires a different antidote.

But if, upon close examination of a problem, you search the Scriptures for direction from God, bathe the matter in prayer, and discern there is nothing left to do but wait upon God—your heart palpitations can be diagnosed as worry.

Take a page from a wise old saint, "worry about nothing, pray about everything." Matthew 6:25–34 teaches that occupation with righteous behavior should monopolize the Christian’s time. When we take care of God’s business, He takes care of ours.

Because worry is so common among us sinful humans, God graciously gives us wonderful promises everywhere in Scripture. Take a quick walk through the Scriptures with me. "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (Psalm 56:3, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6, 7, 19, and 1 Peter 5:6, 7).

Read the verses again with a quiet heart. Doesn’t your redeemed heart soar when you thoughtfully comprehend what God promises His beloved ones?

Worry, in all its manifestations, is unbelief. Our Lord teaches in Matthew 6 that worry is being unthankful (v. 25), illogical (v. 26), unproductive (v. 27), useless (vv. 28–30), fleshly minded (vv. 31–33), and distracted (v. 34). He challenges you to think the way a person of faith thinks. You must never allow worry to commandeer your life. You have been hijacked when you fail to allow God to bear your burdens, and your burdens distract you from His work.

Verse 30 offers the cure for worry. Worry’s cure is found in strengthened faith. Faith is simply believing what God says and resting upon it. Here is a practical checklist: 1) List your worries. 2) Look in the Bible for the promises of God attendant to each worry. 3) Lay your burdens on Him by taking undistracted, quality time with God in prayer. 4) Labor to serve God. In short—spend your worry time in worship time. Trust and obey.