Worry is common

A lot of people struggle with anxiety

I’ve even had a lot of anxiety

John 14:1-4 “1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.””

Do Not Be Troubled

This is not a command but an encouragement

The disciples are about to lose their rabbi, the person they believe in to be the messiah. They are going to face troubles, but they are being encouraged not to be troubled.

tarassō - is the same word used in John 13:21 Tarassō - is the same word used in John 13:21 to discuss Jesus

“21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.””

Matthew 6:28-33 “28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

“Each day has troubles enough of its own.” So why anticipate them? If we do, we double them. For if our fear does not materialize, we have worried once for nothing; if it does materialize, we have worried twice instead of once. In both cases; it is foolish: worry doubles trouble.

John Stott

Do Not Be Troubled

Trust in His Promise

πιστεύω pistĕuō, pist-yoo´-o; To have faith in, upon or in respect to a person or thing

Matthew 6:33-34 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Talk to God

Either worrying drives out prayer, or prayer drives out worrying.

D. A. Carson

Philippians 4:6-7Philippians 4:6-7 “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Pray, and let God worry.

Martin Luther

2. Meditate on the Word

Romans 12:1-2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Good Memory Verses:

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Jeremiah 32:17 “17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

Psalm 121:1-2 “1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Romans 8:28 Proverbs 3:5-6 Jeremiah 32:17 Psalm 121:1-2

3. Put Off Put On

Ephesians 4:22-24 “22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.

Oswald Chambers

When we replace worry, what we are lacking is faith. To remove worry, we must grow in faith.

What we must do is 1) notice the worry and 2) replace it with faith

4. Focus on Eternity

Jesus doesn’t tell us to trust he will take care of us today, He tells us he will come again and take care of us then.

Yes, we can trust Jesus today, but our real promise is for all of eternity.

I’ve read the end of the book and Jesus wins.