Since the beginning of time, man has wondered and worried. It is in our fleshly, fallen nature to do so. Adam and Eve first ate of the fruit in the Garden because they trusted the wrong source and worried they would be wanting if they did not take that first bite. They wanted control, but that alone belongs to God.

It may not be popular to say in the church, but in our finite humanity, we can often find ourselves struggling with anxiety- the debilitating, heart-pounding, plan-canceling kind. “What if the plane crashes?” “What if my friends betray me?” “What if I cannot pay my bills?” “Did I say the wrong thing?” “Will my family be okay?” Will the world ever improve?”

So. Many. Questions.

These are just snapshots of what anxiety and worry can manifest as. It can play tricks on your mind, wreck friendships and families, and even impact your physical health. Maybe you or a loved one have experienced it in one of these elements, or perhaps in a different realm. You are not alone, but you also do not have to live in that. There is a better way.

Worry can rob you of the good that is available through the peace that comes with living a life fully surrendered to Jesus.

The scripture bodes the question in Matthew 6:27 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” The answer is none of us can. If you worry about what God already has control over, you are simply giving your non-refundable time and energy to something you cannot change anyway.

In 2023, and every year beyond this one, trust God. He hung the stars and spun galaxies into existence. He feeds birds. He dresses lilies. He takes care of what belongs to Him.

Rachel is a lover of travel, nachos, and the gospel. She is a graduate of Urshan College and will most likely always call it Gateway. She recently graduated with her master’s degree in counseling and human services and is currently serving at The Pentecostals of Cooper City in South Florida.