“Stop making a mountain out of a mole hill—it’s just a little thing!” When I’m under a lot of pressure, little things can seem massive:
· The red light seems to take twice as long when I’m running late.
· My sandwich order came with onions when I had asked for them to be left out.
· The TSA officer rummaged through my suitcase, disregarding my attempt to pack neatly.
These are a few examples of relatively minor challenges that can seem oversized when I’m stressed or worried.
I’ve been thinking about the whole worry and stress thing lately because of reading and deeply absorbing Jesus’ words on this subject. In fact, I’ve been slowly memorizing Luke 12:22-32, where Jesus does a mini-sermon about worry, and I’m finding it very helpful to meditate and digest His words. In these verses, He tells His followers not to worry about what we eat or what we wear, citing ravens and lilies as examples of God’s care for animals and plants.
As I’ve been processing Jesus’ words, I’ve been thinking about things we might worry about in our modern world as a contrast to what Jesus identified as worry-subjects for His immediate audience. When He was talking to His disciples in these verses, He told them not to worry about their food or their clothing. In thinking about our modern living, maybe we worry about our food and clothing, but I suspect that we worry about lots more than only these items.
Common things we might worry about could include money, bills, health, decisions, relationships, future, politics, transportation, kids, deadlines, schedules, conflicts, responsibilities and lots more. No matter what is challenging us, Jesus tells us not to worry. Indeed, His directive to not worry is a command, full stop.
But how do we follow Jesus’ command? I believe it’s easier to say than do. Thankfully, Jesus gives us some helpful tools to navigate the worry challenge. One of the tools He offers is a focus adjustment. Twice, He uses the word “consider.” Instead of fixating on a worry, Jesus says:
· “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!”
· “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!”
When we find ourselves in the worry rut, it’s helpful to make a perspective adjustment. Take some moments to focus on nature, as this is one of Jesus’ suggestions. Look around you; consider the seasons, trees, flowers, birds, grass, pesky insects, etc. God has created and maintained the world in which we live, so He can absolutely take care of us. We are lots more valuable than birds and flowers!
Additionally, if we find ourselves worrying about time (not enough time, deadlines, schedules, etc.), it’s helpful to look at Jesus’ words pertaining to time. Consider Luke 12:25-26, “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?” Worrying about time doesn’t change time. We don’t get more time by worrying. In fact, I think that time gets all the more crunched and challenging when we fret and obsess about it!
So let’s be mindful of our thoughts, what we might be worrying about. Let’s recognize that God is much bigger and more capable than whatever we are concerned about, and He invites us to cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for us! (See Psalm 55:22.)
