Article: An Antidote for Anxiety

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 shows what I believe is a great stress-buster for handling life in today’s highly stressful environment. A lot of our stress and discouragement is caused either by unfounded or maybe even real fears and anxieties. The Lord Jesus however said in Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. He was advising us to ‘Live one day at a time’.

We should consider doing so for the following reasons.

1. BECAUSE WE CAN’T CONTROL TOMORROW

There is no point in worrying about tomorrow, because no one is assured of a tomorrow. God holds the times and seasons in His hand. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”. That’s a good reason to commit each day and our future plans into God’s hands and to receive His strength for our anxieties. Only He can control our tomorrow.

2. BECAUSE THERE IS ENOUGH TROUBLE FOR TODAY

In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said.  “… Do not worry about tomorrow, …Each day has enough trouble of its own”.

Not only can’t we control tomorrow, but we do not know what may happen today. In fact, some of us going through severe crisis situations may dread the dawning of a new day. I once read that there are two possible ways people could wake up in the morning. One group cheerfully says, ‘Good morning, Lord”, while the other says, ‘Good Lord, its morning’! Therefore, let’s place our today in God’s hands for He is always in control. We are then assured of His providence, protection and provision.

It is interesting that God identifies Himself in the scriptures in the present tense as, ‘I am’. He is therefore a God of the present; a God of today. Sadly, many people are either living with regret over the past or with anxiety over the future. For those living with regret over the past, Paul says in Philippians 3:13, ‘But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind….I press on..’, while for those worrying over their future he says, “Do not be anxious about anything” and then encourages us to trust in the power of praying to God (Philippians 4:6). Yes, each day has troubles of its own, but in Psalm 68:19, God is revealed as the Lord “Who daily bears our burdens”.

What troubles are you facing today? What are you worrying about? A quick read through of Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus speaks against worry, will act as a powerful faith booster and a stress-buster!

 “Do not let the worries of tomorrow, disable your life today”.

3. BECAUSE GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF TOMORROWS NEEDS AND ANXIETIES

This is so true if we are willing to give Him the first place in our lives. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Our future is totally secure in Jesus!

For some reason however, most of the time, God doesn’t show us what tomorrow holds. Maybe it’s simply because He wants us to trust Him for tomorrow. One of the hymns my wife Regina and I chose for our wedding 12 years ago said;

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know He holds my hand

CLOSING

I would like to conclude with some well-loved lyrics written by country songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, with a little help from Kris Kristofferson. They say,

I’m only human, I’m just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be, and all that I am
Show me the stairway, I have to climb
Lord for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time.
One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking from you

Let’s be freed from stress, worry and anxiety by learning to live “One day at a Time”, completely trusting Jesus! It’s a good ‘Antidote for Anxiety’.

(This article is condensed off the sermon ‘Living One Day at a Time’. The full sermon can be seen here)