DO YOU WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING
AND PRAY ABOUT NOTHING?
Mr. Johnson was a very rich man who lived in a very
big city. Though rich, yet, never had peace of mine. He worried that he may not
enjoy his wealth if death knocks at his door. He complained that he cannot
travel to his village due to the so call ‘witches and wizards’. He worries so
much everyday of his life. There live another man called Mr. Jonah. This man is very poor and lived in a very small city. He
worries about everything. How can I get money to take care of my family? How
can I train my children to higher institution? Where would I live if my rent expires?
These and many more were this poor man’s worries. These two stories are not
quite different from what is happening nowadays. Both the rich and the poor keep
complaining. Today, many people live and sleep with different worries about
life. We worry about everything, but pray about ‘nothing’. From a practical
perspective, It is not incorrect to say that worry is necessary, but though not a
necessity of life.
Worry
has now become part and parcel of our society. Everywhere one goes comes complain
by people. Some persons complain on ‘unimportant things’, while others on ‘important
things’. Even among the Christian brethren, there is such an increase in
worries and a decrease in prayers. This ordinarily is not an incorrect
assertion. It has become not incorrect by look of things to assert that in our
present generation, worries precede prayers. This in a real sense supposes to
be the reverse.
My very great encounter with this
commanding statement “Don’t worry about anything! Instead pray
about everything.” (Philippians 4:6a) was an eye opener to receive
answers to the germane questions of life
such as; what will I eat?, what will I drink? What will I wear? Where will I
live, perhaps if our landlord drags us out from the house? What will I even give during this year’s harvest? This bible
passage helps us to channel every problem in a proper way to the only master
who can solve them all.
In context, Paul just reminded the saints
about God’s nearness, and follows with the exhortation that believers should
not be fearful, anxious or wavering. Worry
is what gives a small thing a big shadow, it is useless and unnecessary. Worries
have now formed the cardinal problems of many Christians today. Though, we
would have reasons or circumstances to worry about, but the bible clearly says we should not worry but pray
about everything (worries inclusive). Dwight Pentecost puts this famous
passage in proper perspective asking as “Do you ever find yourself worrying? Do you
know that scriptures calls worry a sin? When you realized that you were
worrying, did you go to God and confess it as sin? Worry is just as much a sin
as adultery, or murder, or thief. Yet how often we as believers treat it
lightly when we find our stomach tied in knots because we have worried ourselves
into nervous frenzy”. Apostle Paul in this bible passage is not saying
that there are not means to worry, but he is saying that believers are to avoid
this subtle and debilitating sin. God
expect us to take everything to Him. There is no greater source of spiritual
strength than the self-assurance that the Lord is near. He His near to answer
us, help us and provide for all our needs, no wonder Thomas
Nelson could boldly say that, “Anxiety harasses the
soul; enfeebles, irritates, raffles the temper, is a sign of mistrust and
failing obedience and distracts the mind from communion with God”
The
opening expression “Don’t worry about anything!” conveys a force of command. Many
people ask ‘what will I do to raise money when my children are driven for school
fees? How can I wait for one month before I receive my salary”?, How can I get
money to get things going? When will I get the desired work/Job? When will I
get admission to tertiary institution or even when will I finish my school?
All these are but few among numerous worries.
It is intriguing to know that anything is anything, and nothing absolutely
means nothing. This literally means ‘not even one thing’. We should not
worry about even one thing, for God would answer us of all of our worries if we
pray on all of them. That was why Charles Spurgeon says, “our
anxiety, does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its
strengths”.
What does worry do to an individual? As
established earlier, when a man worry about everything, it’s an evidence of a lack of
trust in God and His unfailing promises. To that, worries lead to sadness, it destroys
and even kills. It depletes ones energies, devitalizes the
physical man, and weaken the whole spiritual nature. It greatly reduces the
spiritual statute and impoverishes the whole spirit. “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only
saps today of its joy.”(Leo Buscaglia)
What then is the remedy
for worry? The
bible says “Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him
for all he has done”-Philippians 4:6b. Therefore, People who are
spiritually balance react to trials with thankful prayer. Such prayer is the antidote to worry
and the cure for anxiety. The divinity of prayer is not in view here,
but rather its priority and the attitude the believer brings to it.
That is why Bengel says, anxious
and prayers are mutually opposed as fire and water. Thus, prayers and
thanking God for the condition we are in is what would be obtainable at the
period of worry. God is capable of solving every of our problems and challenges
we are passing through in life today. He expects us to Believe and Trust in Him.
It is captivating to know that nobody
lives without a need. It is these unmet needs of today that turn up to become worries
tomorrow. The solution is prayers. We
should pray about our worries and not worry about our worries. Even when
many people pray, they do it casually and not with total trust in God. When we pray and hope in God, it’s an indication
that we think God can look after us. This is what we have failed to do as
His Children.
It
is conclusively correct to assert that when our hope is in God, we will have peace
in our heart. The bible confirms that when it said, “Then you will experience Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ
Jesus. And now dear brother and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on
what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”- Philippians 4:7-8. As an appeal, we
are to worry about nothing because we can pray about everything.
“The more you pray, the
less you'll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You'll feel more patient and
less pressured.” - (Rick Warren)
