The COVID-19 pandemic has created problems all over the world that have not been experienced for over 100 years when the Spanish Flu in1918 infected over 500 million people worldwide. In the United States alone over 9 million people have been infected by COVID-19 resulting in over 229,000 deaths. Because the virus can be easily transmitted between people the government has issued stay-at-home orders, masking, social distancing, and temporary closure of many businesses and schools. Churches have been given guidelines that limit and restrict in person services until the disease subsides.
The lives of people have been seriously disrupted because of this pandemic. People are living in fear that they may contract the virus and are limiting social contact with other people. Some have lost their jobs and are living on unemployment and wondering how they can meet their financial obligations in the future. Many people, including Christians, find themselves worrying about all these things even though they know they can’t change them. Worry never changes reality. If you worry, the outcome is the same as if you don’t worry. Actually, the outcome is worse because worry takes a toll on your health, your mental and emotional state, and your spiritual life.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
I grew up on a farm. My father was a farmer. He worked very hard to provide food and clothes for his wife and three sons. He got up at 5:00 am every day and often worked until it was dark raising animals and crops that he could sell to make income for our family to live. I never had to worry about having enough to eat or clothes to wear because my Dad was taking care of this responsibility. Dad knew we needed these things in order to live and he gladly provided them.
The worst thing about worry is not that it makes us miserable, although it always does. The worst thing about worry is that it dishonors our loving Heavenly Father. Suppose my Dad saw heard his kids say: “We’re not sure whether our dad is going to feed us tonight”. What would that say about his love for his children? That would not be a good evaluation of our Dad. And yet so many of the Lord’s children live as if their Father in heaven either isn’t concerned or isn’t able to take care of their needs!
In the above verses from Matthew 6, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and he refers to “your heavenly Father”. Christians have a Father in heaven who knows that we need the basic necessities of food and clothing in order to live. He is committed to providing these things. However, Jesus also said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow”
What Jesus is saying is that the key thing in life is being rightly related to God. If your soul is rightly related to God, then He will take care of your bodily needs. Jesus also said in Luke 12:22-28: “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?... If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
Jesus’ rebuke, “O you of little faith,” hits the heart of worry: our little faith in God. It is safe to say that all worry stems from our lack of faith in God? When we worry, we are doubting that God truly cares for us. Keep in mind that Jesus here was addressing the disciples. He was talking to believers. And yet, believers who have trusted God with their eternal destiny can easily fall into a state of unbelief when it comes to the immediate problems we face, especially with regard to basic necessities of life. We all need to keep in mind Paul’s words, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). In other words, if God did the greatest thing in eternally saving us, can’t we trust Him to take care of comparatively short term lesser problems while here on earth?
So how do we find relief from the worries that weigh us down every day? This is the apostle Peter’s advice in 1 Peter 5:6-7:
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” The “care” referred to in 1 Peter 5:7 is also translated as anxieties and worries. We can cast all of our anxieties, worries, and fears on the Lord, because He cares for us. The first part of this verse tells us to humble ourselves under God’s hand. This means that we need to recognize that God had allowed us to experience problems so that we will shift our eyes from our self to Him and allow Him to carry the burdens for us.
I love this verse: ““Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:28-30, Only God can truly give us rest. For anyone who is heavy laden and filled with cares, cast them on God! Peter says to cast all your care — not just some of your care. God wants it all. And in exchange, He’ll provide you with the peace that passes all understanding.
We must all admit that it is not easy to give our worries and cares to the Lord. We pray about them but they still linger in our minds. Often our prayers are not answered right away because God is taking us on a journey to learn to trust Him. God hears our prayers but never gives us more than we can handle. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and all that He has given and promised to give us, situations change, mountains are moved, and troubles melt away.
I love this hymn, “Does Jesus Care?”
1 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
2 Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
3 Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
4 Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks —
Is it anything to Him? Does He see?
Chorus:
O, yes, He cares - I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares, He cares.
I have had two younger brothers precede me in death. I know they are with the Lord. I have seen my children and grandchildren experience difficulties in their lives which have caused me worry and anxiety. But I have learned that Jesus cares and is carrying those burdens for me.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6,7
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:14-16
Author - John Spence