Hello Advent Family,

 

I love to hear the story of one hit wonders. They often have incredible musical talent and are even very successful in their own niche. It is just one of their songs that happens to go big broadly and they become famous. Some musicians have even bemoaned this fame that they receive (although I have never heard one complain about the money). One such incredibly talented musician is Bobby McFerrin. While he has had a wildly successful career most of us only know him for “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” That song was number one for quite some time on the pop charts in 1988 and won song of the year on just about every awards show possible. If only worry were that simple to deal with right? The Bible talks a lot about worry as well. Let’s look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 together today.

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

The one thing that does seem to often help people with worry is knowing that there is someone with you to help you walk through times of worry. The words of Jesus are meant to remind us that He is always with us. No matter what we walk through Jesus is with us every step of the way and He wants to take care of us. Knowing that truth often doesn’t stop worry completely but the more we rest in the truth the more we can begin to deal with worry in our lives. Knowing that our omnipotent creator who loves us desperately and is with us always cares about our struggles certainly helps! I pray that we would all learn to rest more and more in that truth and don’t worry be happy!

 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave