That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

—Matthew 6:25-34

~~~~~

No Worries, Just Jesus

By Jennifer Kane

.

No worries, no burdens—

not because life’s troubles

are invisible,

or that they simply disappear

if I pretend they don’t exist.

No, I see them all—

the weight of each heavy moment,

the sharp edges of fears and doubts.

But I choose to lay them down,

not in avoidance,

but in surrender.

Hakuna Matata—

a phrase that echoes

the sound of rest

when all the storms rage.

But my peace

comes not from ignoring the battle

or pretending it doesn’t exist.

It comes from knowing

that each struggle

is already held in hands

that carry all burdens

for me.

I give Him my worries,

not because they cease to matter,

but because they are no longer mine

to carry alone.

The weight is lifted

not by hiding from the world,

but by walking with the One

who walks with me through it.

So, no worries,

because He is here,

in the midst of it all.

And in His presence,

peace isn’t the absence of trouble,

but the assurance that I

don’t walk through it alone.

~~~~~

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:6-7, Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 23

Have you ever heard the phrase “Hakuna Matata”? It isn’t just a made up phrase put into a very catchy Disney song. It’s a real Swahili expression that really does mean “no worries.” For many, the expression brings to mind a carefree attitude or an idyllic escape from life’s pressures. However, as disciples of Jesus Christ, “no worries” doesn’t mean ignoring or denying our problems; rather, it means choosing to entrust them to a faithful God who cares deeply for us.

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with challenges—financial stress, family concerns, health issues, and fears about the future—worry can easily take root in our hearts. Worry tries to control what we can’t and brings anxiety over things we cannot change. As we wrestle with our concerns, worry can consume our minds, affecting our health, relationships, and even our faith.

But the Bible has a clear message for us when it comes to worry. God invites us to cast our cares on Him, not because He wants us to be naive or indifferent, but because He loves us and is fully capable of handling the burdens we carry. Worry, in fact, is the opposite of trusting God. When we worry, we essentially say, “I don’t believe God will take care of this.” That’s why Jesus commands us not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34, reminding us that our Heavenly Father cares for us far more than He cares for the birds of the air or the flowers of the field. If He takes care of them, He will certainly take care of us.

The key to living without worry is not to ignore or avoid the issues that trouble us, but to trust them into God’s hands. God’s solution to worry is simple: entrust everything to Him through prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This verse doesn’t tell us to ignore our worries but to bring them to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, and trust Him to handle them. The result? Peace. A peace that doesn’t make sense by worldly standards. The kind of peace that stands firm in the midst of storms because it is rooted in trust in God’s ability to provide and protect.

1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to “cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” Imagine a burden you’ve been carrying—whether it’s fear, anxiety, or stress—and visualize placing it at the feet of Jesus. You no longer have to bear it alone. You can entrust your burdens to the one who is perfectly capable of carrying them.

Worry tries to steal our peace, but trust brings freedom. When we choose to trust God with our worries, we acknowledge that He is in control, and that His plan for us is better than any plan we could imagine. We choose to let go and allow Him to work, even when we don’t understand how or when the answer will come.

True “no worries” comes when we rest in the knowledge that our loving Father is in control. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus reminds us, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Today’s worries are enough for today, but tomorrow is in God’s hands.

Psalm 23 paints a beautiful picture of God’s care and provision: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.” God is our Shepherd, guiding us, providing for us, and restoring our weary souls. With Him, we have no reason to worry.

So, how do we live this “Hakuna Matata” life in Christ? By taking our worries to God and leaving them with Him. Instead of holding onto them in fear and anxiety, we lay them at His feet in prayer, knowing that He cares deeply for us. When we choose to trust Him with everything—big or small—we begin to experience the peace that only He can give.

Next time you feel a wave of worry wash over you, remember: God is faithful. He has never failed you. His peace is available to you now. Choose to trust, to cast your cares on Him, and to walk in the freedom of a worry-free heart.

~~~~~

Father God, I confess that I often let worry take hold of my heart, letting anxiety cloud my thoughts and actions. I bring all of my worries to You now, trusting that You see them and care for me more deeply than I can comprehend. Help me to surrender each concern, whether big or small, and place them at Your feet, knowing that You are in control of every situation. Teach me to live in the freedom of trusting You fully, especially when the storm seems overwhelming.

Fill me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding—peace that guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Help me to release all fears and doubts that hinder me, and replace them with unwavering faith in Your provision. May Your presence be a constant reminder that I do not walk through this life alone.

Today, I choose to let go of my worries and trust in Your perfect plan. Thank You for being my Shepherd, for guiding me through every challenge, and for providing all that I need. In Your loving hands, I find peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

December 4 2024