Don’t Worry About the Future

Moving Up Higher Column

By Joyce Meyer, Christian Post Guest Columnist Thursday, March 27, 2008

Worry, fear and dread are classic "peace stealers" and cause anxiety—a sure sign that peace with God is lacking. These peace stealers are all the things God tells us in His Word not to do because all of them are a total waste of energy and never produce any good results.

Worry can drain our energy, make us grouchy, and maybe even make us sick. It has many negative side effects and none of them are good. Worry is totally useless! Can you think of one good purpose for worry? We worry simply because we don't trust God. We worry because we think we can solve our own problems if we dwell on them long enough. And we worry because we are afraid things in life won't turn out the way we hope.

The only solution to worry is total abandonment to God and His plan for our life. Even when unpleasant things happen, God has the ability to make those things work out for good if we continue to trust Him (see Romans 8:28).

One day, I felt like the Lord was telling me that I needed to stop worrying and getting so uptight about my life. I felt He said I should just relax and take life as it comes. I think God was just trying to tell me that there are many things in life that I can't do anything about, so it's pointless to struggle and worry all the time.

God has equipped you to handle life as it comes, but if you spend today worrying about tomorrow, you will find yourself tired and frustrated. God will not help you worry! There's enough to consider each day, so you don't need to anticipate tomorrow's situations while you're still trying to live out today.

Jesus said it like this, So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34 The Amplified Bible). This is the best advice any of us will ever receive.

When you feel the weight of worry bearing down on you, just have this short conversation with yourself…

Ask yourself: What good does it do to worry?

Tell yourself: It doesn't do any good at all. It never solves the problem; it actually adds to it.

Most of the things you worry about are settled in time—sometimes without us doing anything. Somehow an answer comes, and all the time you spent worrying was a total waste of time and energy.

The important thing is not to let the concerns of life weigh you down with worry. Learn to face them with boldness and courage, and declare that you will enjoy every aspect of your life. You can do that because you have the awesome power of God dwelling in you. And God is never frustrated and unhappy. He always has peace and joy, so since He lives in us and we live in Him, we can attain the same thing.

When tempted to worry, my husband, Dave, always says, "I am not impressed." He believes we should be more impressed by God's Word than our problems. He says if we don't get impressed, we won't get depressed, then oppressed, and ultimately maybe even possessed by our difficulties.

No matter what you are facing right now, God has a great life planned for you. It includes prosperity and progress in every area of your life. It includes great peace, joy unspeakable, and every good thing you can imagine. You don't need to worry about the future! Refuse to settle for anything less than God's best for you.

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Author/teacher Joyce Meyer has been helping people overcome life's problems through biblical keys to practical Christian living since 1976. Her radio and television programs are broadcast throughout the United States and much of the world. For additional information, you may contact Joyce Meyer Ministries at P.O. Box 655, Fenton, Missouri 63026 or visit www.joycemeyer.org.

1-800-727-9673