Why Worry?

Worry is something that just sneaks up on you, right? It’s like breathing—you don’t even notice it happening half the time. One minute, you're feeling fine, and the next, your thoughts are racing a thousand miles a minute. You’re already stuck in those “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios. You start thinking of every possible outcome, and it all builds up, making you feel like you’re trapped in your own mind. You try to shake it off, but it’s like being in a rocking chair—lots of movement, but you’re going nowhere. You’re spinning in circles.

I think we can all relate to that feeling. You put so much energy into trying to solve everything in your mind, to “prepare” for things that might never happen, and yet… you end up in the same place. Anxious. Tired. Still without answers. Jesus saw us struggling with this. He knew exactly how overwhelming worry can feel, which is why He spoke directly to it in Matthew 6:25-34. He said, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” (KJV)

That phrase “take no thought” is the Greek word merimnao (μεριμνάω), and it means “to be anxious” or even “to be pulled in opposite directions.” It’s like being torn apart inside. Worry isn’t just distracting—it splits us in two. One part of us says, “I trust God,” but then another part is pulled in the other direction, overwhelmed by fear, doubt, and all those “what ifs” that never stop coming. You feel that? It’s like your soul’s being stretched thin, tugged between competing thoughts and feelings.

But Jesus doesn’t leave us there. He reminds us of something simple, but so powerful: “Look at the birds. They don’t sow, they don’t reap, they don’t stockpile food. And yet, your heavenly Father takes care of them. Are you not worth more than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

The birds? They don’t worry. They don’t stay up late fretting about what tomorrow will bring. They simply live. They take what comes and trust that God will provide. They’re not hustling around, trying to control everything. And Jesus asks, “Are you not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

The Greek word here for “much better” is dia (διά), which emphasizes “separation” or “distinction.” It’s like Jesus is saying, “Do you see the difference between you and the birds? Don’t you realize how much more valuable you are to God? You’re His child, His creation. You matter to Him in a way that even the birds don’t.” When we forget who we are in God’s eyes, that’s when worry creeps in. We start to wonder, “Does He really care about me? Is He going to show up?” And yet, Jesus is reminding us: God sees us. He knows exactly what we need. He’s already working on our behalf.

Then He asks something that really hits home: “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). The Greek word for “add” here is epístēmi (ἐπίστημι), and it means “to increase, to stand upon, or to place upon.” So when Jesus says worry doesn’t add to your life, He’s saying, “What has it ever actually added? What’s it really done for you?” It’s a reminder that worrying doesn’t move you forward. It doesn’t help you in any way. It just keeps you stuck in the same place, spinning your wheels. It doesn’t increase anything in your life… nothing—except your anxiety.

Jesus doesn’t leave us hanging. He doesn’t just point out that worry is pointless—He also gives us a better way to think about it. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us exactly what we’re supposed to do instead: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The Hebrew word for “trust” here is batach (בָּטַח), which means “to be secure, to be confident, to rest in God’s care”. It’s more than just believing in God; it’s about knowing, deep down, that He has everything under control—even when everything around us feels uncertain. We’re invited to rest in that confidence. And when we “acknowledge” God (in Hebrew yadah [יָדַע]), we’re not just acknowledging His existence. Yadah actually means to know intimately. It’s a personal relationship with God. It’s not just knowing about Him; it’s about knowing Him in your heart. It’s about being so familiar with Him that you’re able to rest in His promises.

Think about the time when the disciples were on the boat with Jesus during a storm. The wind was howling, the waves were crashing, and they were absolutely certain they were going to die. And meanwhile, Jesus was… asleep. Totally calm. Not a care in the world. They woke Him up in full panic mode, shouting, “Master, don’t you care that we’re about to die?” (Mark 4:38). And Jesus, fully in control, stands up, rebukes the storm, and says, “Peace, be still.” The Greek word for “peace” here is shalom (שָׁלוֹם), which means more than just the absence of conflict—it’s the fullness of wholeness, rest, and completeness. It’s the kind of peace that only comes from God, where your heart is at rest even in the middle of chaos.

Then He turns to them and asks, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40)

Worry blinds us to the truth. We’re so focused on the waves and the wind that we forget that Jesus is right there with us. The storm feels like it’s bigger than everything—but it’s never bigger than Him.

Psalm 55:22 gives us such a clear command: “Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV) The Hebrew word for “cast” here is shalakh (שָׁלַךְ), which means “to throw down, to hurl away, to completely release.” It’s not a simple handoff—it’s like you’re throwing your worry down and walking away from it. You’re letting it go. When we cast our concerns to God, we’re not supposed to pick them back up five minutes later. We’re supposed to trust Him to handle it. We let Him carry the weight.

Then there’s the moment at the Red Sea when the Israelites were stuck, with no way forward – or so they thought. They were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the water. But God spoke through Moses and said, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14). He told them, “Stop panicking. Stop trying to fix it. I’m already fighting for you.”

It’s so easy to forget that, isn’t it? We try to do everything on our own—solve every problem, carry every burden, fix everything. But God is already working on our behalf. He’s already ahead of us, making a way when we can’t see one.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:6-7) he shows us what we should do instead of worrying: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Notice how God doesn’t just tell us, “Stop worrying.” He says, “Pray. Lay it down before Me. Thank Me, even before you see the answer.” “Let’s have a nice conversation”. And when we do that, He gives us something worry never can: peace. Real, lasting, unshakable peace. Peace that doesn’t make sense by the world’s standards, but peace that guards your heart and mind.

Worry may feel like you’re doing something, but it doesn’t take you anywhere. Trust, though, takes you somewhere. It moves you forward. It anchors you in peace instead of fear.

So, the next time worry creeps in and you start feeling like you're drowning in it, remember this: Jesus is in the boat with you. The storm is never bigger than He is. Be comforted in that truth. Let go of the weight you weren’t meant to carry, and trust that He’s already handling it.

Someone once told me, “Why worry? If you can’t do anything about, then why worry? And if you can do something about it, You have nothing to be concerned for, now do you?”

Leave it all to our Father, who created and knows us personally.

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.