Webster’s Dictionary defines worry in several ways, here are two: “mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated” and “to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment.”

The fact is, if we do not get control of worry in our lives, worry and anxiety will take over, and it may feel like the third definition Mr. Webster offers us: “to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat.”

Worry can indeed “take us by the throat” if we give in to it, but I am grateful that Jesus has taught us there is no need to worry. Let’s look closely at this text:

Matthew 6:25-34, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

1. Life Is More Than Food and clothing, look at the birds of the air

Sometimes we get caught up in accumulating money and “things.” Take a few minutes and observe nature, specifically birds. Notice how they go about their business, doing what they need to do, without worrying, because God gives them what they need. They teach us to live each day to the fullest, without the burden of worry.

2. Anxiety Doesn’t Get You Anywhere

Whatever problem is causing us to feel anxious, we can be sure anxiety will not lessen the problem, it will only make us miserable. Focus on God’s peace, and anxiety will fade.

3. God Delights to Adorn Things

Just notice the beautiful flowers and the warmth of summer, or even the colors of fall, but what about us? He may not have adorned us with beauty, or wealth or the best of everything materially, but God’s adornment is not in things that fade. He sees each of us as worth dying for, so he has adorned us with salvation, his great love, and with his own son.

4. Seek First His Kingdom and his righteousness.

Anxiety shows that we are too close to the world and too far from God. We need to put our time and energy into seeking God, who He is, and who he created us to be. We do this through prayer, worship and reading the bible. If we put our trust and faith in him, then we truly do not need to worry about anything, because God covers our needs, even before we know what they are.

Let us strive to turn our worry into worship!

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Sue Wilson Radel of Forest Baptist Church.