Anxiety is not new. It wasn’t invented by the current generation. And it isn’t unique to this society. Anxiety has been around since Adam and Eve made their first bad choice and cowered in fear in the Garden instead of running joyfully into God’s arms when they heard Him walking by.
Anxiety was bad then, and it’s bad now. It can ruin lives, stunt productivity, distract from important goals, and distort values. This was exactly what the devil intended when he enticed Adam and Eve way back then. Anxiety is one of his most effective tools.
That’s why Jesus has a whole section, including today’s verse, titled “The Cure for Anxiety” in my translation of the Bible.
It kind of reminds me of Bobby McFerrin’s song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It was very popular (Number 1 on the charts and Song of the Year in 1989) because it made everyone feel good. But those good feelings didn’t last forever. It wasn’t a cure. It was just a bandage.
Jesus does have the cure however. So what is it?! Everyone listening to Him speak was dying to know. If you read the whole passage, you’ll see that His song would be titled “Don’t Worry, Seek God.”
God’s creation inherited anxiety when we chose our desires over God. So the antidote to anxiety is to choose God. Over everything and anything else. Nothing makes the devil more frustrated. If the devil gives me something to worry about, and I fret and sweat and lie sleepless at night, he throws a little party and laughs with glee. If however, I immediately run to God in prayer when confronted by distress, the devil starts to scream and pull his hair out.
Dear God,
I want to frustrate the devil and his evil schemes. Remind me to turn to you first with everything. Please forgive me for wasting time worrying. Thank you for your love, your generosity, and your promise to provide exactly what I need when I put you first in my life.
CamDevo 