Work Instead of Worry
Think of the ravens. They do not sow or reap . . . yet God feeds them. And how much more are you worth than the birds! . . . think of the flowers; they never spin nor weave; yet, I assure you not even Solomon . . . was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field . . . how much more will he look after you, you men of little faith!
Luke 12:24–28 JB
Jesus did not say that we were not to be industrious, for birds are very industrious. They arise early in the morning and go out to collect the provisions that God has supplied. The flowers flourish and are beautifully clothed, but their roots reach down deep to tap the resources that God has put into the ground for their enrichment.
The birds remind us that food should not be our chief concern and the lilies show us that worrying over appearance does not make us beautiful. Domestic fowls and flowers are protected by human hands, but wild ones such as those described here are cared for by God Himself.
Two conflicting forces cannot exist in one human heart. When doubt reigns, faith cannot abide. Where hatred rules, love is crowded out. Where selfishness rules, there love cannot dwell. When worry is present, trust cannot crowd its way in.
The very best prescription for banishing worry is found in Psalm 37:5: “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” The word commit means to turn over to, to entrust completely.
Think of the things you do not worry about. Perhaps you never worry about whether you will be able to get water out of the faucet in your kitchen, or maybe you do not worry about a tree falling on your house.
Now ask yourself why you do not worry about such things. Is it because, in the case of running water, that it has always been there every time you wanted it, or that a tree has never fallen on your house before? Certainty breeds trust, doesn’t it?
We can be just as certain and just as worry-free about God’s love, protection, and provision because He has never gone back on a single one of His promises. He never changes. Great is His faithfulness.
Our Father and our God, I trust You to provide for me and to protect me. I commit my life, my heart, and my work to You. Please use then in whatever way You see fit to glorify You. Great is Your faithfulness toward us, O Lord. Increase my faith, and help me to let go of my worries and frustrations. Through Christ, the One who gives peace. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).