A man was sitting on a park bench shredding up old newspapers and spreading the small pieces on the ground around him. “What are you doing?” asked a man who stopped to inquire as he was walking by. The man on the bench said, “I’m spreading this paper around to keep the elephants away.” The man who asked the question said, “I don’t see any elephants.” The man on the bench smiled and said, “Works pretty well, doesn’t it?”’

Worry is like this. Worry causes us to spend a lot of time and emotional energy over things that don’t exist and probably will never happen to us. All of us tend to worry sometimes about the future. We say, “What if this happens…” or “What if that happens…?” Most of the time the things we worry about never come to pass, and we look back and realize that we spent a lot of time and energy worrying over nothing.

Jesus says, “Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt. 6:27) In other words, does worry bring about any positive change in our lives? The answer is, “No.”

Rather than worrying about things, Jesus says that we should make serving God our highest priority and then trust that our loving heavenly Father will take care of us. Now, I realize that this is more easily said than done. We all tend to worry about things at times, myself included. But this is why we need to be reminded of Jesus’ words over and over again.

He says: “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 important than food, and the body more important that 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?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, oh 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.” (Matt. 6:25-26, 28-34)

The Apostle Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6- 7)

Don’t allow your life to be consumed by unnecessary worry about tomorrow. There is certainly a place for wise planning of the future, but don’t worry about the unknowns of the future. Live everyday trusting and serving Christ, and trust that your loving heavenly Father will provide all you need, whether material things or the grace you will need to make it through whatever challenging times may come. He will be there for you! As someone has said, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”