BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT).
In life, you will have to choose to worry or to pray. There will be plenty of opportunities for both. You must make up your mind ahead of these opportunities. More people worry than pray! To worry is to allow anxiety and apprehension over a matter to harm your wellbeing, while to pray is to present your concerns to God for resolution. “Worry, in a biblical context, refers to a state of anxiety or unease about potential future events or outcomes. It is often characterized by a lack of trust in God’s provision and care” (Bible Hub Topical Bible).
People worry about many things, both big and small. It could be about their health, finances, family members, examinations, marriage, and so many other things. Some people even worry over ridiculous things. How often do you worry? How many things do you worry about? Jesus told Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things.” (Luke 10:41, NIV). You can choose to worry about many things or pray about them.
God does not want you to worry but to pray. Paul says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT). This scripture presents two options open to everyone: worry about everything or pray about everything. God’s will is that you pray about everything, not worry. This is how to enjoy God’s peace.
Worry will steal your peace. Instead of worrying, the Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). Similarly, Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down.” (NCV). Other Bible translations refer to worries as burdens or cares.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus deals with the subject of worry: “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 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 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, O 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.” (NIV). Luke 12:22-31 says a similar thing. These two passages show the futility of worry. Will you choose to worry or pray?
Why you should choose prayer over worry
1. The Bible’s command is to pray, not worry. Jesus teaches this, and other scriptures emphasise it (Matthew 6:25-33; Luke 12:22-31; Philippians 4:5-7; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22). God loves you and is in control of your life, regardless of what you are going through. He knows the end from the beginning, and nothing is hidden from Him (Isaiah 46:10; Hebrews 4:13). Thus, there is no need to worry. Yet, due to our fallen human nature, we often do. Prayer is the solution to worry, but worry often hinders prayer and our ability to hear God’s voice. Don’t let it hinder you.
By praying, you obey God’s Word, which is for your own good. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 says, “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). Prayer helps you transfer your burdens to God, instead of carrying them alone.
2. Sincere prayer is an expression of your trust or faith in God. Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (NIV). Those who pray to God show their trust or faith in Him and align themselves with God’s provision for their peace and well-being in Christ. Thus, they do not suffer the disappointment that comes from trusting in humans rather than in God. “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.’” (Jeremiah 17:5-6, NIV).
However, those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV).
Sincere prayer is proof of your trust or faith in God. It demonstrates that you trust in the Lord, not in yourself, somebody else, or something else. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV).
3. Worry is a useless waste of time and changes nothing, while prayer is productive. Worry achieves nothing but produces negative results. Luke 12:25-26 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (NIV).
Instead of worrying, take your concerns to God in prayer. Tell Him about what is bothering you and ask for His help. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (NIV).
Time spent worrying is wasted; it is better spent praying, which positions one for divine help. Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (NLT).
The Bible assures that we will receive answers to our prayers if we fulfil certain conditions, including forgiving others, praying in faith and in the name of Jesus, being specific, persistent, and patient, and asking with the right motives (Mark 11:25; Mark 11:24; James 1:6; John 14:13-14; Mark 10:51; Philippians 4:6). 1 John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV).
However, God’s answers are not always what we ask for. For instance, sometimes, instead of deliverance, God may give us the grace to go through our struggles or pains, as it was with Paul (2 Corinthians 12:6-9).
4. Prayer shifts your focus from your challenges to God, while worry focuses your attention on the problems and the possible negative outcomes. Worry gives you negative expectations, while prayer gives you hope of a miracle. Psalm 34:5-6 says, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” (NIV).
Those who pray can expect things to get better in God’s timing; they can look forward to a positive change according to God’s will. Indeed, God can speak to them and assure them of their miracles, which will be evident at the right time. Thus, according to Philippians 4:6-7, because they have prayed to God with thanksgiving rather than worrying, they will experience God’s peace. This peace transcends all understanding and will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (NIV).
5. Divine interventions are invited through prayer, not through worry. Prayer brings a solution; worry wears you out and can even complicate the matter you are worrying over, as you perceive it or handle it wrongly. Jesus says in Luke 18:7, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (NIV). He answers the question immediately in the next verse: “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” (Verse 8a, NIV). The Greek word translated as “quickly” in this passage is en tachei, which means “suddenly,” “shortly,” “swiftly,” or “speedily.” In prophecy, en tachei denotes that the moment God begins His work, He will perform it speedily without delay; it does not promise that the event will happen immediately on the human calendar. God determines the timeline, and He will not delay a second past the appointed time. As 2 Peter 3:8 says, with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
God’s intervention is always well-timed. He acts without unnecessary delay. When we think He is delaying, He, in His sovereignty, may be preparing the recipient of His intervention for the miracle, preparing the situation to glorify Himself, or waiting for the perfect time. Sometimes the outcome may differ from what is expected, but everything God does is in the best interests of His children. This should encourage anyone to choose prayer over worry. Ultimately, prayer works, not because of human efforts but because of God’s grace and sovereign will. Scripture also shows that God sometimes intervenes out of pure mercy, even when people don’t pray. “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (NIV).
6. Worry destroys your spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional health, while prayer builds it. Persistent or chronic worry has been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, a feeling of hopelessness, loneliness, depression, and mental imbalance. Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (NIV). The Good News Translation puts it this way: “Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.”
Worry will rob you of your health, peace, and joy. If allowed, it will mess up your life and prevent you from making the most of each day. Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34, NIV). Don’t ruin the present by worrying about the future.
The more you pray, the less you worry, and vice versa. In other words, prayer will help you to overcome worry, but it does not automatically mean that everyone who worries is not praying enough. Some people suffer from clinical anxiety and require both professional help and prayer.
Conclusion: There will always be reasons to worry, but you must not. Thinking is not worrying, but overthinking is. Showing godly concern, caring for people, or planning wisely is not worrying. To fail to plan is to plan to fail. But beware of letting your imagination run wild and being troubled about what may never happen. Praying is far better than worrying. You will achieve nothing by worrying except making yourself miserable. However, you will achieve much success by planning wisely.
If anything causes you to worry, pray about it instead; it is more beneficial. Prayer can avert evil, invite divine intervention, or release the grace to endure challenging times.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life, your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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