Isn’t God Big Enough?
What are you worrying about today? We all have cares, all have concerns, all have things that trouble us. But when we worry about them, we're really saying, "God, I have some big problems, and You're not big enough to take care of them." We may think it's no big deal, but Jesus asks, "Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (Matthew 6:27). Worry does nothing to change our concerns or troubles, but it does change one thing--it changes who we are. Worry changes our personality and makes us frustrated, suspicious, cranky, and miserable. It causes us to miss the beauty of the moment and the opportunity to be fruitful in our lives. It literally chokes us spiritually.
In Luke 10, when Jesus was at the home of Martha and Mary for a time of fellowship, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to what He had to say. But Martha was so distracted by all the preparations, she demanded that Jesus tell Mary to help her. Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." He wasn't discounting that there were things to be done, but He was speaking to how she was handling those things. When we're anxious and stressed, we're allowing the daily cares of life to pull us away from Him. This was a destiny moment when Martha needed to give her undivided focus to Jesus.
Winning the constant battle over worry comes one way. The apostle Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). He doesn't stop when he says, "Don't be anxious." He follows it up with a practice that you and I have to do every day. He tells us to pray. We are to talk to God about everything that concerns us, which is exactly what prayer is. He is saying, "Turn your worry into prayer. Take your worry list and put it on your prayer list."
It doesn't work to be worrying and praying. The two can't coexist. They're opposites. Don't allow anxieties to push you around as Martha did. Take your worries and begin to offer them up to God. Bring Him into the middle of your challenges, and it becomes a prayer. Offer up this prayer with thanksgiving in your heart, saying, "My worries are small compared to my great big God." Then the apostle Paul adds, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
In Luke 10, when Jesus was at the home of Martha and Mary for a time of fellowship, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to what He had to say. But Martha was so distracted by all the preparations, she demanded that Jesus tell Mary to help her. Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." He wasn't discounting that there were things to be done, but He was speaking to how she was handling those things. When we're anxious and stressed, we're allowing the daily cares of life to pull us away from Him. This was a destiny moment when Martha needed to give her undivided focus to Jesus.
Winning the constant battle over worry comes one way. The apostle Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). He doesn't stop when he says, "Don't be anxious." He follows it up with a practice that you and I have to do every day. He tells us to pray. We are to talk to God about everything that concerns us, which is exactly what prayer is. He is saying, "Turn your worry into prayer. Take your worry list and put it on your prayer list."
It doesn't work to be worrying and praying. The two can't coexist. They're opposites. Don't allow anxieties to push you around as Martha did. Take your worries and begin to offer them up to God. Bring Him into the middle of your challenges, and it becomes a prayer. Offer up this prayer with thanksgiving in your heart, saying, "My worries are small compared to my great big God." Then the apostle Paul adds, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).