Jesus tells us: ‘Don’t worry, trust in God and be happy’

Many things are happening around us that can make us anxious: the long-term effects of the oil spill, rising gasoline prices, the slow economic recovery, crime, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the recent turmoil among Arab nations.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could be totally free of all anxiety?

Some would say this can only going to happen in heaven. Is there any hope for peace here on earth?

Jesus says yes. He tell us in Matthew’s Gospel, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, about your body, what you will you wear.” If Jesus were walking among us today, he would probably add, “Do not worry about your bills, how you will pay them all; about your children and grandchildren, how you will make sure they are safe and happy; about your job; insurance; and everything else you worry about.”

He goes on, “Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Then he tells us to look at the wild flowers that never went shopping and yet are clothed in splendor.

Finally, “If God takes care of the grass of the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith. So do not worry. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given you besides.”

Someone once said, “Worrying about something that may never happen is like paying interest on money you may never borrow.” The movie character Van Wilder declared, “Worrying is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”

Jesus asked the question, “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” The answer is no. Worrying probably shortens our lives.

God wants us to be at peace, not anxious and worried about anything. The Almighty wants us to trust in God’s loving care.

The God of peace, love and justice wants us to live in peace. After Jesus rose from the dead, the first thing he said to his disciples was, “Peace I leave with you; my peace is my gift to you.” He wants us to be at peace no matter what is going on in our lives.

The way we arrive at this peace, however, is by putting all our trust in God and not in our money, possessions, success or anything else.

To be at peace, our hearts have to be set on God. Psalm 62 says, “Only in God will my soul be at rest; from God comes my hope, my salvation. You alone are my rock of refuge, my strength, my glory, my God. Trust in God always, O my people, pour out your hearts before Him.”

If we want peace, we have to spend time in prayer, asking God to draw us closer to Him, to make us more aware of His presence within us, to let His spirit and His love fill our hearts and our lives. The more we pursue a close union with God, the more our hearts will be filled with peace and the less we will be plagued with anxieties, worries and fears.

Lord, keep us from worrying about the setbacks and difficulties of life. Help us to see them not as stumbling blocks, but as stepping stones in our journey to You.

Help us to realize that You go with us no matter what happens.