Trust and worry are opposites.  So let’s look for a minute about worry.  In today’s scripture we read: be anxious for nothing…in other words, do not worry.  Easier said than done.

All of us have worries, stresses, challenges, and problems.  Often, we become so overwhelmed with these issues that we can think of nothing else.  So we sit around and worry, worry, worry.  In fact, some of us are so accustomed to worrying that we stay in the problem rather than trying to find a way out.  We get comfortable with the trauma and drama of our lives, so we don’t move on. We just worry.

We as Christians, often fail to realize that there really is a divine solution to any problem or challenge we face.  But, for us as humans, praying, seeking divine guidance, is often the last thing we want to do when our worries overwhelm us. 

And yet, Paul, who was sitting in a Roman prison, wrote to the Philippians to face their anxieties with prayer.  That is clearly what he did.

Notice Paul’s first statement:  be anxious for nothing.  Paul, in his wisdom, knew that every believer would face situations that are worrisome. And when we are told to “just pray about it“, our usual response might be, “Oh, but you don’t know my circumstances.”  Well, yes Paul did…Paul faced every kind of worry possible… so we should heed his advice. 

No matter what the circumstances are, no matter what major problems you face, no matter what worry you have, prayer can make a difference because it puts us in contact with the source of peace, which is God.  There is no peace outside of God.  He thought it up and created peace,  and he offers it to us.

So, how can we as believers change our worry into trust?   First, we must acknowledge that worry is our own attempt to control the future.  And no matter how hard we try, we can not control the future.  We must learn to trust…do what we can, with the best we have, then leave the rest to God.  That’s trust.  We have to do our part.  We can‘t just sit around and wait for God to solve our problems, but God does play a major role in the solution…if we ask him to do so.

The most effective way any believer can prepare for the stress of the day is to begin each day by talking to God.  Make time for a quiet moment and clearly state your problem to God. Make your request to him.  Tell God your concerns, then thank him for the solutions.

Now, if you keep telling God about your problem and asking for his help over and over again, you might be staying in the problem instead of moving toward the solution.  Once you’ve stated the concerns or problems, then thank God for help in the solution.  As Paul said in the scripture, make your requests known with thanksgiving.  God wants us to express our gratitude…not because it makes him feel better, it makes us feel better, makes us stronger, more able to move toward divine solutions in life.

Then we have to be patient.  God works in his own time, not ours.  Sometimes it seems like it’s taking too long for resolutions…but with patience, prayer and thanksgiving, usually the best solution appears.  It may not be the one we hoped for, but in the end, if it is from God, it is the one that is best for us.

Jesus had every right to worry.  He was often hemmed in by crowds, with not much time for himself.  He had no home, no means of transportation, and no money.  He had a lot to accomplish with out any resources except his trust in God.  Jesus had disciples to teach, people to heal, and a world to save.  Yet he never allowed his schedule, his busy-ness, to interfere with his relationship and conversations with God…the source of all solutions.  Jesus didn’t become distracted and ignore people.  He didn’t become self-centered.  Instead, he found time to withdraw, to be still and quiet,  and to talk to God.  He trusted God instead of using his energy to worry.

The busier we humans are, the easier it is to worry.  The greater temptation to worry, the greater the need to b alone to talk it all out with God.  Jesus had reason to worry.  But he had a greater reason to spend time with God.

So here is the lesson in all of this.  To break the habit of worry, and yes, it is a habit, we must develop the habit of praying with thanksgiving. 

It is in the moments you spend with God, clearly stating your needs, thanking him for his help in the solutions, that you find the perspective and peace you need to handle the stress of your particular troubles.  In worry you sacrifice your health and your relationships.  By trusting God, really trusting God, you enhance your health and enrich your relationships.

Jesus had a lot of roles he had to live into.  On of the greatest was the role of counselor.  In that he was superb.  He knew and he knows what is best for us.  His desire for each of us is to be healthy, happy, productive…the way to have those things is to swap our worry for trust in a holy and helpful God.

The two things most people worry most about are:  fear of failure and fear of the future.  Well, if we fail, God loves us anyway.  And most failures prove to be helpful, because they move us in different directions and toward more beneficial paths. The truth of the matter, we all fail at something all the time.  With understanding, and with trust in God, we can overcome fear of failure.

The second thing most people worry about is fear of the future.  You can’t control the future anyway, so why not try trusting your creator.  He does know what is best for each and every one of us.  He even knows the future.  So try trust.  It can’t do anything but help.

Let’s make a commitment to try to live by this verse:  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.

Thank you, God.  Amen