Why Worry?--by Linden Malki

Why do we worry?  Usually, because we can't control the future. How does worry help? Actually, it doesn't. It just gives the illusion that we are accomplishing something useful. Jesus points this out when he asks, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  It's very easy to worry; easier than doing something about whatever you worry about. So what happens when you don't worry?

Some people don't worry because they think they have no power over what happens. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't, and sometimes we don't know which is true.  Sometimes we don't want to know, because we don't want to take any responsibility, figuring that what we don't know we can't be blamed for. Of course, there are always those who blame somebody else for everything, even when they are the ones who are responsible. 

It's easy for someone to say "Don't worry about it!"  Unfortunately, most often that really means that you should worry--and find out what's going on, and go from there as necessary. Worry can be useful--but only long enough for you to figure out what is really  going on and what you can realistically do about it.

We are told that we are supposed to not worry. Jesus went on to point out that  those who do not know God worry about all sorts of things, but that "your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)  

This doesn't mean to simply sit back and let everything wash over us.  It does mean that we have access to more power than we realize; that we can know a God who does know what tomorrow has for us.  We're not supposed to be irresponsible and stupid, but we are supposed to be open to the unexpected. I was blessed by learning fairly young the truth St Paul learned :"All things work together for good for them who love God and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)  This doesn't mean that everything that happens will be good--what I learned is that all things that He allows to happen will work together for good, but it doesn't mean than any of the things are good in themselves. 

In the long run, we are to have faith in the One who is faithful, who will take care of us, often in amazing and unexpected ways. It will not always be easy; it may not be what we think we want, but we will be given strength as we need it  (usually not until the moment we actually do need it; He doesn't work on our schedule).  And we will be taken care of at the end, when we will finally learn what was really going on and see the amazing pattern to it all.