Listen to Devotion

[Jesus said] “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

How much time do we spend worrying? How many sleepless nights do we endure because of those worries? How much stress does worry put on our bodies? How many hours are wasted at work and home because of worry? I shudder to think how many hours of my life have been lost to the black hole of worry.

It’s really a shame, isn’t it? So much is lost to worry, when worrying can have no actual impact on the things that we worry about. What does worry actually do for us? I mean, aside from damaging our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and causing others in our lives to be nervous along with us, what can worry actually do for us? I am hard-pressed to come up with a single, solitary benefit that worrying brings into our lives. The Bible agrees. It points out that worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives.

There is a better way. Rather than be anxious about anything, we can put our trust in someone who can impact the things that cause us to worry. He is none other than our God and Lord who created this world and us and everything in it. He has the power to move mountains and calm storms. He also has the power over life and death. This same all-powerful God has seen fit to save us from sin, death, and hell. Rather than worry and wring his hands over our fate, God sent Jesus to take action. Jesus lived a perfect life and died an innocent death on the cross. His great love for us has saved us and given us the gift of heaven. His love continues and he promises that he is always with us.

So instead of spending so much time worrying, turn to God in prayer and trust that just as he saved us from sin, he will also help with whatever is causing us to worry.

Dear Father, thank you for your great love and care. Help me to overcome my worries through trusting in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.