To Worry, or Not to Worry

Forward. It is the only place left to go. Shall we descend into the chasing blackness behind us? No, forward we go, even into the unknown. Mourn for awhile if you must, but then let the dead bury the dead. Forward we must go, yes, even into the unknown.

It's a worrisome life we live. The strain of college, the fear of the future, and how we'll pay for our loans. Payments on car insurance. Medical bills. Pressure to find a secure group of friends. Relationships. Break ups. Seeking God. And on top of our long list of to-do's we add: must worry.

We shouldn't worry. Worrying hurts. It's enshrouds. It kills. It's even a scientific study that stress (while it is a natural release of adrenaline that is used in situations of danger) when weighed upon an individual for an increased amount of time significantly deteriorates their health and well-being. But we do it any--almost compulsively.

Even as Christians we are taught not to worry. Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-27, "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? 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 then they. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

The question, is: Then what are we to do? A few verses down Jesus answers this question: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." It's obvious that this doesn't mean that as long as you seek God you don't have to do your homework, go to work, or pay your bills. This simple means that at the very top of your long to do list, cross out where it says "must worry" and write "trust Him".