“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25)

In 2005, after serving over six years of a seven-year prison sentence, a Latvian burglar broke out of prison. Though free at last, Sergei couldn’t enjoy his freedom. He had an apartment and a life with his girlfriend, but constant fear of what would happen next kept him constantly on edge. Finally, after five years of jumping at shadows, he walked up to a minimum-security prison and turned himself in. When surprised officials asked why he gave up his freedom, he explained that he had spent years in a a different prison, enslaved to his anxiety. “Worry over being caught was proving too stressful,” he said.

What is Worry?

“Worry” comes from an Old English word meaning “strangle,” so it’s no wonder worry feels suffocating. What we call anxiety can be a natural reaction to stress, your body’s way of giving you focus and a boost of energy in a high-stakes situation. But when we worry, we give anxiety a foothold by dwelling on our troubles, unproductively stewing and fretting. We’re snagged.

In the Bible, the Greek word for “anxious” (Matt. 6:25; Phil. 4:6) can sometimes describe a healthy care or “concern” (e.g. 1 Cor. 12:25; Phil. 2:20). Christians aren’t careless or even care-free. Since people matter and our lives matter, we care deeply. But in one of Jesus’ most famous teachings, he directs us “do not be anxious about your life” (Matt. 6:25). And Paul uses the same word: “do not be anxious about anything” (Phil. 4:6).

Timothy was concerned for the Philippians’ welfare (Phil. 2:20), so how is that different from worrying about them? Genuine concern for others is good, but when the concern takes over and imprisons us in fearful “what ifs,” we’ve left our healthy concern behind, along with our faith in God’s care. We’ve entered the mastery of worry. In fact, Jesus starts his famous meditation on worry with the idea of mastery (Matt. 6:24-25).

Anxiety often comes from trying to control and solve what is not ours to solve.

8 Reasons Not to Worry from Matthew 6

1. Because God is your only master (Matt. 6:24-25). Money (and whatever else we worry about) will take over if we let it. But if God is in charge of our lives, we can trust him to lead and provide.
2. Because life is about more than the stuff we tend to worry about (Matt. 6:25). God gave life; he’ll give what you need to sustain it, too.
3. Because of your value to God (Matt. 6:26). The bird is God’s creation, but you are his child.
4. Because it doesn’t help (Matt. 6:27). Expecting to lengthen your lifespan by worrying about it is like trying to speed up bumper-to-bumper traffic by honking your horn. Maybe in our imaginations, worry seems like a grown-up activity, carrying our heavy, important cares. So realizing how little all our self-serious fretting accomplishes is a wake-up call to the frivolous foolishness of spending time on it.
5. Because worry reveals a lack of faith (Matt. 6:30). This is the heart of the problem and thrust of Jesus’ argument — trusting God can affect our anxieties.
6. Because God knows what we need (Matt. 6:32). He hasn’t forgotten you or overlooked the issues of your life.
7. Because God will do his job, and he wants you focused on yours (Matt. 6:32-33). We can spend our lives chasing money and trying to prevent any possible lack. Or, we can set our sights higher. We have a far more significant purpose.
8. Because today is the only time you can make a difference (Matt. 6:34) And there are matters you need to focus on today.

How Can We Overcome Worry?

Dealing with anxiety might require a lifestyle solution, addressing causes like our schedule or relationships. For some, God’s answer to prayers might include a medical solution. There’s no shame in treating biological conditions. But the spiritual solution that the Lord commands is for all of us.

Jesus shows us the heart of the matter: recognize your utter dependence on God and fully trust him to reliably provide (Matt. 6:26-32). Anxiety often comes from trying to control and solve what is not ours to solve. So Peter says to surrender our cares to God when we pray. “Humble yourselves … casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6-7). And Paul adds that if we do, God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:6-7). Notice that peace isn’t a command but a result. Rather than, “Have peace!” Paul says, essentially, “If you pray your worries with thanksgiving, God’s peace will station itself at the door of your heart.”

We know our requests have sway, but our peace isn’t because we know we’ll get what we want. It’s because we trust the one we’re asking. When it’s sincere, prayer is a resolution to count on God rather than ourselves.

The single most important fact about your past, present, and future is that you’re “in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). It’s not your financial state, your health condition, or your your family situation. Your spiritual location can tell you what you need to know most about your worries and thoughts.