Worry is loud, but Jesus brings you peace

Introduction (Me)

Good morning, Journey family. So glad to be here with you today. If you’re new here to Journey, I want to say welcome. If you’re coming to church for the first time or it’s been a while I want to say thank you. Thank you for taking that step. I appreciate you so much. It’s not by mistake you’re here today.

My name’s Jayson, and I’m the Student Ministry Director for our middle and high school students. We meet every Wednesday night and it’s one of my favorite parts of the week.

I’m also a Chaplain in training for the Navy. A chaplain is a pastor for people in the military and their families. I got to Journey almost a year and a half ago. For those asking, no I am not in high school. No, I am not in my twenties, even though I may look like it [lol]. I think I have a few gray hairs…which is probably from my kids or the middle schoolers on Wednesday nights.

Prior to this, I actually served in the Marines for about 10 years. While I’m here at Journey, sometimes I have to attend some military training. So, next Sunday I’m actually leaving for a couple months for some training, but will be back. So I am so thankful for the opportunity to share this message with you before I head out for a little.

We’re in a series called The Good and Beautiful Life, and it’s your guide to seeing life differently. It’s how to see through the lens of Jesus and living a life where we experience the Kingdom of God here and now.

Before we get started, I just want to pray for us. Let’s pray…

[Pray here.]

Quick question…have any of you gone skydiving or jumped out of a plane? Do any of you wish you could do that? If that’s you, then I have another question for you.

Why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane?

I was asking myself that same question when I was given orders to attend the Army Basic Airborne School back in 2018.

I had two sides of thoughts going through my mind. First, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Second, what am I thinking?

I got through the first two weeks pretty easily. Why? Because I never got in a plane. The first week was what they call ground week. They went over the basics of how to position your body before your body would smack the ground with an old school military-grade parachute.

The second week was tower week. We would get into high towers, jump out of them using the techniques from the first week. We could have plenty of errors, because we were still strapped into a zipline kind of thing.

The last week was called the infamous jump week. I had a lot of highs and lows that week (lol…get it!). We would be required to do 5 jumps out of an airplane throughout the week.

Leading up to and during every one of those jumps I thought I was going to break my legs or back. Worst case, I always worried about my chute not opening and not seeing my family. Sounds crazy, but it’s what I thought about. I had so much worry of what could take place.

I worried a lot during those three weeks. But what did worrying do for me? Nothing…just create this receding hairline. I had all the practice and techniques to succeed. I just needed to see the green light in the plane and jump.

Outside of this short experience, I still have many worries. I have three little ones. I think this about them all the time…Are they gonna be safe throughout the day after I drop them off to elementary school and daycare? Will they grow to be healthy? Am I a good enough father? Are they going to make good life choices? Will they grow to love Jesus?

I worry about the safety and health of my wife, parents, sister, and friends. I worry about the things of the future and those around me. It’s hard not to worry.

Tension (We)

The same thing can happen with our minds. Our thoughts are consumed with the what ifs, what’s gonna happen, or I have to do everything to control this. Those negative thoughts are stuck on repeat in our minds!

Today, we’re talking about our thoughts. Did you know that the average person thinks about 70,000 thoughts per day? That’s wild, isn’t it? This means that over the course of a year, you and I will think over 25 million thoughts! That’s even scarier! We have words we will tell ourselves, and things we will believe to be true about who we are. Things that go on in our minds. And I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I wish my thoughts were a little different!

As a matter of fact, there was a recent study done by the American Psychiatric Association that says that 43% of people feel more anxious than the previous year. It’s probably even higher than that because I don’t remember taking the survey, do you? And this percentage has gone up over the past few years.

Some of the major concerns people like you and me had in this study were keeping themselves or their families safe (70%), keeping their identity safe (68%), their health (66%), and paying the bills (65%).

The list went on and on.

What about for you? Does it ever feel like your thoughts are just pushing you side to side or digging you deeper and deeper?

Your job has you stressing to level 10, and all you can think about is how worried and nervous the next due-out from your boss makes you feel. Your finances have you so on edge picturing how bad it might be if you don’t pay that next bill. You’re waiting to hear back from the doctor and your thoughts are just overtaking you. You keep replaying that fight you had with your spouse in your mind until it becomes the only thing you can think about.

You’re trying to do your job,

trying to eat dinner,

trying to get ready for the day,

trying to hang out with your family,

trying to sleep…

But no matter what, you can’t shut off the negative thoughts running through your mind.

“I’m going to get fired.”

“I’m not good enough to provide for my family.”

“What happens if the doctor comes back and say this…”

“My husband or wife I will never be the same after this fight.”

On and on and on it goes, right?

That’s the thing about worries: we all have them, and we all struggle to believe they’ll change. Sometimes what we feel can seem like the forever truth—that we’ll never be able to change those worries into something productive.

So, what do we do? Are we stuck with the overwhelming thoughts in our minds? Or is there a better way forward for us?

Truth (God)

One of the best things about the Bible is that it gives us examples of real people who had real experiences and real feelings, just like us! Some of Jesus’ closest followers actually listened and watched Him teach about how to deal with worries. It can do the same for us!

The Bible is divided into two sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament are the books of the Bible that record what happened before Jesus walked the Earth. The New Testament consists of the books that accounted from the time that Jesus walked the Earth and beyond. But ultimately, whether it’s an Old Testament or New Testament book, they all point to Jesus.

The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels, which simply means Good News. They are the accounts of Jesus’ life when He lived among us. The first book of the New Testament—the first gospel—is the book of Matthew. Mathew records a sermon that Jesus preached. It’s famously called the “Sermon On The Mount,” which simply means a message that Jesus delivered on the side of a mountain!

I think the big question that Jesus’ disciples asked before Jesus started teaching them, and even during, was this…Can we really experience the Good and Beautiful life? Is that available to us here and now? Because if that was so, then that would change their perspective on everything.

In this sermon, Jesus talked a lot about what your life would look like if you had a thriving, everyday faith. He covers all kinds of topics, like the ones we’ve covered in the past few weeks.

Then Jesus gets into the things relating to our stuff and possessions. He turns the perspective about what we value upside down and focuses on how the Good life comes when we direct our actions and thoughts not on the things of this world, but on God.

Then we come to the most encouraging and comforting words in the whole sermon.

Turn with me to Matthew 6:25-34. Feel free to use your Bible app, hard copy Bible or check out the screen behind me. Also, don’t be afraid to use your Table of Contents at the beginning of your Bible. I do it all the time!

So Jesus was finishing up his talk on greed and possessions, and then He kind of turns to the audience and says this:

“25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spring. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)”

Let those words resonate with you for a second.

Jesus’ words here are so powerful because they show us three important truths we need to remember when it comes to our worries.

The first? There is freedom in trusting God. Tim Mackey from the Bible Project said it best, “There is a freedom, there is a peace, if you really trust that God will provide.”

But you might be saying, Jayson this world is crazy and gives me so much anxiety and worry. How can I ever get freedom?

Well, as Jesus was talking to his disciples, they had similar thoughts. For them and the world they lived in, it was difficult to believe in the goodness and kindness of God.

But Jesus wanted them to understand that God has so much power over the universe that he even has his eye on the birds. He has genuine concern for the birds. But how much more care and concern does he have for his own image and likeness…and that’s you and me.

Now, Jesus isn’t saying to not work and do things to make a living. He’s not saying just go out there and be lazy. He is trying to get at something deeper. This idea that life is going to throw at you uncertainties, doubt, insecurities…but don’t let that be what controls your mind.

Jesus also knows that in this life, you gotta work for food and clothing. That’s not what he’s talking about as He says, “why do you worry about clothes?” We have to have a shift in perspective, a different mindset.

Every morning, we get my son, Lucas, ready for daycare. If it’s hot outside, we put him in shorts and a shirt. If it’s cold, we put him in pants and a jacket. Regardless, he’s always looking good. Lucas doesn’t have to worry or have concerns about what he’ll wear each day. He can trust that we’ll take care of him. His job is to have fun at daycare.

Jesus is helping us to see that there is freedom and peace if you really trust God will provide.

The second thing I want you to see here is super encouraging and helpful. And that’s the fact that God knows you and your needs. In other words, we can spend our life seeking the things of this world, which create more worry and concern, or we can rest in the assurance of our Father who is with us.

Jesus says, “So don’t worry…your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Two weeks ago, Pastor Phil said there are three things that will rob us of experiencing the good and beautiful life, which are people pleasing, greed, and worry. These three things impede on us experiencing a changed mindset.

The Good and Beautiful life has us saying that God knows me and my needs. The same Jesus who told us not to worry about our lives also experienced both times in the desert and the place of abundance with His Father. Today and tomorrow, Jesus knows what you need and He’s here to meet you where you are.

But, you say “before I can stop worrying or before I can really trust you Jesus I need this to happen. I need you to change these circumstances in my life. I need you to change the way things are happening over here. Then, I’ll try.”

Too often we think the good and beautiful life involves luxury and happiness at every corner. If it’s not, then we lose hope or we get uncomfortable.

But Jesus is saying this, see what happens. See what happens if you’re willing to acknowledge that I’ll provide for you, both in this life and the next. You are so much more than what the world throws at you. You are here to live a life different from the world. Jesus says, I got you.

Now, this last thing gets at the heart of the matter, as Jesus said this…

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34 NIV).

The people hearing these words had a lot of things they could be worried about. And Jesus is saying, “When your thoughts are filled with a ton of stress and worry, you don’t have to leave it continuing in your mind.” Instead of worrying about yesterday or focusing on tomorrow, Jesus reminded us to stay focused on the Kingdom.

Jesus reminded us…

To turn the volume down on worrying about what might or might not happen tomorrow.

To replace our worrying and concerned thoughts.

To choose instead to turn to something better!

I’ve had so much worry in my life that it brings about these crazy feelings of anxiety where my body responds in different ways and I can’t control it. Maybe you have too? It can be overwhelming and you ask yourself why can’t it stop? How can it stop? Anxiety is your body’s physiological response to worry. Jesus knows we live in a broken world that’s going to make us feel certain ways. Jesus isn’t telling us we aren’t supposed to feel our worries. He is telling us we can redirect our thoughts to something better. To refocus our thoughts on His Kingdom.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

Worry is loud, but Jesus brings you peace.

The Apostle Paul said, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

To seek first the kingdom is to desire, submit, and participate in God’s kingdom now. It’s pursuing the things prayed for in the Lord’s prayer that Pastor Phil talked about last week and that we recited with Pastor Bryce during our prayer time this morning. It’s saying “God, the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.”

Take a minute and think about the unhelpful thoughts running through your mind. Consider the unhealthy, negative thoughts that sometimes make up your mind—the stuff that increases the level of stress, worry, and anxiety when it crosses your mind. It feels heavy, right?

We can ask Jesus for His help, and we can focus on what He says is best and true. We can adjust our mindset, and we can base it on the words of Jesus and His truth. And then we can ask Him to help us to rest in it!

There is grace for today. If tomorrow brings new trouble, there will be a new grace to meet it.

Application (You)

So here is the question: What brings you worry? What are you concerned about?

Interactive

Take a piece of paper and a pen. I want you to write down some things that are stressing you out right now. What are you worried about? What are the thoughts that are weighing down your mind? You can even write it in code or a different language if you are worried about someone seeing what you are writing!

Take a minute of silence between you and God to write down what’s on your heart. We’ve also placed some paper and pens for our families in the wiggle room (and you can even do this if you’re watching online). What’s something that you’ve been holding onto?

I bet you want to get rid of these, right? Here’s how:

Ask Jesus to carry it with you. Remember, Jesus didn’t just ask us to stop worrying; He offered to help us by carrying the weight of our thoughts with us and showing us a better way to think and live. We can ask Jesus for help and be confident that we’re never alone. We can give Him those sheets of paper we’re holding.

Replace that thought with a better one. You can replace those worries and concerns with something that tells you the truth. Start by reminding yourself what’s true about you and what Jesus says about you.

In a book of the Bible called Psalms, which is a collection of songs and poems people wrote to and about God, a writer shared this truth about replacing his thoughts with truth:

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” (Psalm 94:19 NLT).

Going back to the time I jumped out of planes for the military real quick. The green light turns on, worries streaming through my mind, I step foot on the ledge of the plane, and jump. Then the most peaceful thing happened during this chaotic event. The chute opened and I experienced the most beautiful peace I didn’t think could happen. Looking around I could see the beauty and the stillness of God’s open creation for miles.

When doubt, worry, or stress fills our minds, we can turn to the truth of who God is to get help. We can replace our doubt with hope, our worry with cheer, and our stress with the peace of Jesus. His peace surpasses everything.

Landing (We)

As we close, the worship team is going to play a song. Spend some time between you and God giving Him whatever it is that you wrote down on that piece of paper. And when you head out after the song, I encourage you to crinkle it up and throw it away. This paper isn’t some magical thing that’s going to take away everything. But it’s simply you saying “God, here are my worries. Can you help me? I’m choosing today to give everything to you.”

And if this is you today, your circumstances don’t have to rule you. God’s spirit is guiding you.

Imagine if you could experience freedom in the midst of your worries.

Imagine if your needs were already taken care of by a God madly in love with you.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, thoughts racing, but allowing God to carry those burdens.

This is what He does. He did it 2,000 years ago and does it today for you.

Just remember that Worries are loud, but Jesus brings you peace.

Let’s pray.