How to overcome fear, anxiety, and worry

Are you struggling with fear, anxiety, and worry? Anxiety seems to be a prevalent problem within today’s culture. I suspect it has a lot to do with the pressure to be the best, to make more money, to have more things, and to meet the definition of “success”. Although, let’s face it, success is relative to the individual. It may feel as if you cannot overcome these anxious, sometimes debilitating, issues with anxiety and fear. Christ tells us otherwise.

In Matthew 6:25-34, we are given a beautiful image of life. I love to sit in my garden area in our yard and watch the birds in the springtime. They seem to not have a care in the world. They forage for food, bathe in rain waters pooled in a yard or on the street and fly with ease wherever they choose. God wants us to rest as comfortably in His provision for us as the birds.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or “what are we to drink?’ or “what are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

We are assured by Christ that the Father will provide for all our needs. He urges us to not worry and to not be anxious. We must remember where the source of our provisions and our life originate. During times of anxiety and worry we are to look to the cross. God the Father provided for our needs long before we were ever born. He knew the needs of the world and provided for salvation and forgiveness of sins generations before we were even thought of being born.

If God the Father can sacrifice His own Son on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins before we even were born and knew we needed forgiveness then how much more can He and will He provide for us? He feeds the birds and clothes the fields. He will sustain you and provide for you. Pray and trust Him.