Why Worry?

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” —Matthew 24:4–8, NIV

Jesus spoke with His disciples, warning them about the end times.

The warnings He gave sound like He was talking about today.

We have struggled with a pandemic.

Many fear nuclear war, terrorism, and riots, and they dread an economic recession. Many live in fear and feel anxious about what might be coming next.

But does worrying help? Worry is a tax we pay on something that might never happen. My friends, do not waste precious time worrying about everything.

It has never changed anything. Rather, it is action that can change a situation. So instead of worrying about the state of the world, choose to live in such a way that your life can make a difference for God. Jesus told His followers to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NIV). We are not called to worry; we are called to live faithfully for God.

Faithful living is praying instead of worrying, giving instead of hoarding, and preaching with actions rather than just words. It is natural to be scared when faced with the prospect of disease and war. But when we are scared, we should seek God in prayer and act out our faith in love. I am reminded of Ellen White’s encouragement when she wrote, “The only way to avoid worry is to take every trouble to Christ. Let us not look on the dark side. Let us cultivate cheerfulness of spirit.” Instead of worrying, celebrate the gift of today by praying and practicing faith.

Volunteer at a food pantry, teach a child to read, visit somebody who is homebound, or spend time reading Scripture. Worrying is futile and does nothing.

Praying and living faithfully will help us be a blessing in the time we have left. Wars and sickness are all around—let us determine to make this a time when we are faithful to God rather than allowing our lives to be dominated by fear.

Lyndsey Elsey