Why So Anxious?

Anxiety can leave us grasping for control, trying to manage circumstances that were never ours to control in the first place. But when Jesus calls us not to be anxious, He doesn't simply say, “Stop being anxious,” or “Pray more.” He points us to the tangible reminders all around us that God cares for His creation, and then reminds us how much more He cares for us - how important we are to Him and how deeply he loves us.

Jesus allows us to lean into Him with our anxieties and move from a place of control to a place of trust that He is in control. The commands of Scripture don't condemn us for being anxious. Instead, they invite us to cast our cares and anxieties on the One who is truly in control and, at the same time, truly loves us.

Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Romans 8:18-23

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Phil 4:6-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:16-18

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Revelation 7:9-17

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      15    “Therefore they are before the throne of God,

   and serve him day and night in his temple;

   and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

      16    They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

   the sun shall not strike them,

   nor any scorching heat.

      17    For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

   and he will guide them to springs of living water,

         and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Reread Matthew 6:25–34. What tangible reminders does Jesus point to as evidence of God’s care? What does Jesus want us to remember about our value to God when we are anxious?

2. Reread Philippians 4:4–7. What does Paul invite us to do with our anxieties? What does God promise as we bring our concerns to Him?

3. Reread 1 Peter 5:6–7. What connection do you see between giving up control, humbling ourselves before God, and casting our anxieties on Him? What reason does Peter give us for trusting God with them?

4. Reread Romans 8:28. How does trusting that God is at work, even when you cannot see or control what is happening, change the way you approach the things causing you anxiety?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Matthew 6:25–34 together. What is one small thing that made you feel worried or nervous this week? If you could instantly erase one everyday worry, what would it be?

2. Jesus tells us to look at the birds and the lilies. Do birds wake up stressed about finding breakfast, or do flowers worry about what they are wearing? Jesus says we are worth much more to God than birds and flowers. How does knowing your true value to God help change the way you view your problems?

3. The word “anxious” can mean having a divided or distracted heart. What are some things that distract us from remembering that God loves us?

4. Grab a jar or a small box. Have each family member write down one current anxiety on a piece of paper, pray over it together, and drop it in the box as a symbol of handing it over to God.