Worry(Less) - Resistance, Ep 14

Psalm 65

God Cares for the Earth.

Ever heard or used the phrase, “mother earth”? And that phrase didn’t just show up randomly. For thousands of years, across cultures, people have looked at the earth and said, it gives life, it sustains life, it provides what we need… it feels like a mother.

And honestly, you can understand why people went there—because every single one of us is living off what the earth provides. Food, water, breath, beauty… it all comes from the ground beneath our feet. As you can see, “mother earth” is primarily a metophor, but some tribes and civilizations have turned it into a goddess or diety itself… In fact, Romans 1 warns of this reality, where humanity turns and worships created things instead of the Creator.

But the Bible tells a deeper, clearer story than greek mythology and civilizations of the past.

When you open Genesis, you don’t meet “Mother Earth”—you meet a good Father. A Creator who speaks life into existence. The earth isn’t the source… it’s the result. It’s not a mother… it’s a masterpiece. And yet, it does reflect something true about Him.

Because the same God who formed the earth to bring forth life… also formed women in His image and likeness. Meaning this: the nurturing, life-giving, sustaining, attentive strength we often associate with motherhood—those aren’t random human traits. They are reflections of God Himself.

So when you see a mother who provides, who carries, who tends, who notices what others miss, who creates an environment where life can flourish—you’re not just seeing a good mom. You’re seeing the image of God on display.

The earth may produce crops, but it doesn’t do it on its own. Scripture is clear—God is the one who makes it fruitful. In Psalm 65, we get this stunning picture of God not as distant, but deeply involved:

He waters the earth. He enriches it. He softens it with rain. He crowns the year with abundance.

In other words, the earth looks nurturing… because God is nurturing. The earth looks fruitful… because God is fruitful.

And in the same way, the women we honor today—mothers, grandmothers, spiritual mothers, adopted moms—bear that same divine imprint. Not because they are the source of life, but because they reflect the One who is.

So today, as we celebrate mothers, we’re not just celebrating what they do. We’re recognizing who they reveal.

Let’s look at Psalm 65 together and see what it shows us about the God whose image they carry.

God hears us, drawing us near to Him.

v. 2-4

goodness is seen in His forgiveness and drawing us close to His house.

not hearing or listening can drive relationships apart…

God rescues us from chaos.

v.6-7

Calm within the storm. The assurance to live life well.

The strength of protections.

“helper” (ezer) in OT is used to talk about God and women as a strong battle partner.

God provides abundantly.

v. 9-13

there is nothing God lacks…and he opens that to us.

illus: God never runs out..moms never tire (so it seems)

What God does for the earth, He does for us.

Matthew 6:25-34

Worry less by anchoring your thoughts upon the wonders of the earth and the goodness of God revealed in Scripture.

(1) Look at the Birds…Look at the flowers

…this gives you something concrete and absolute true RIGHT NOW.

…it’s highly likely, you observe one of these creations and you automatically say something praise-worthy.

…look at them and say something obvious.

This interrupts your spiraling thoughts of worry and worse-case scenarios.

(2) Read and Recite the Word

so instead of ruminating, replace the worry with God’s Word.

If worry is a reality for you, i want to challenge you, men and woman, start to memorize Romans 8.

Worship when worry hits.

…presence brings strength

…presence brings sense of safety because He is near.

What we often call “worry” is frequently the shadow side of something good:

Awareness becomes overthinking

Care becomes controlling outcomes

Empathy becomes emotional overload

Stress is your body reacting to a real demand. Worry is your thoughts running imaginative scenarios. Anxiety is your mind reacting to a perceived future threat in your body. Stress hits your body from the outside

Worry spins up in your mind about it

Anxiety is what happens when it all lingers and compounds

It’s not that women are “more anxious by design”—it’s that many of the same neural strengths that make for incredible mothers, leaders, and caregivers can, under pressure, tilt toward worry. The very wiring that reflects God’s attentiveness and care… also needs God’s peace to stay grounded.

Don’t shame yourself for worry. Name your worry and replace it with worship.

You are not a bad person if you worry…You have a bad system for dealing with your thoughts and your created capacity to care.

Sometimes you need to talk to a Christian therapist. Sometimes you need to take some medication, under supervision of medical professionals to aid you..that’s fine, because sometimes there are physiological and psychological challenges that require special attention and care. All of this is good and right since we are embodied souls, psychosomatic creatures who should be treated in a holistic manner.

But we also need His REAL PRESENCE. Supplication is communing as you make personal petitions. two-way encounter not a one-way diatribe.

Anxiety grows when I try to live like I’m infinite. Peace begins when I accept I’m human—and trust the God who isn’t.

Anxiety says: “It all depends on me.”

Psalm 65 says: “God is the one who sustains everything.”

Ending:

Pray WORDS: Loving, positive, selfless, blessed, unforgettable, courageous, godly, generous, caring, selfless, amazing, beautiful, resilient, strong, warrior, compassionate, kind-hearted, unstoppable, wonderful, strong, incredible, consistent, faithful, determined.

Receive Christ’s presence in communion.

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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

This week we looked at how God takes care of the whole earth. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

Read Psalm 65. What are observations the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you?

In what ways can recognizing God as a nurturing figure change our understanding of motherhood? How might understanding the link between God and motherhood help you appreciate the women in your life?

On a scale of 1 (being never) to 7 (being mutliple times a day) how often do you worry?

If you had to name your worry in one word, what do you worry about most often? Take some time and find a TRUTH from God’s word to replace that worry thought. Do this as a group and offer verse suggestions to each other.

Read Matthew 6:25-34. What do you notice in this passage?