“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
Worry often falls into the category of “acceptable sins”—not because it’s acceptable to God, but because we don’t see it as seriously as other sins. You might say, “I’m just a worrier by nature.” Exactly. It’s your old nature that gets anxious. So how do you tap into your new nature to break the cycle of worry?
First, recognize what worry truly is—the sin of not trusting God. Why is it that we can trust Him with something as big as our eternity but struggle to trust Him with today? Matthew 6:30–32 reminds us that if God knows how to clothe a flower, He knows the clothes we need—and every other need, too. When we let temporal things dominate our thoughts, we’re living like those who don’t know God.
Here’s what we often miss: God’s promise to meet our daily needs is rooted in His eternal promises. Jesus continued, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Instead of letting daily concerns take over our minds, we’re to prioritize growing in godly character and serving His kingdom. That doesn’t mean we ignore our responsibilities—it means we view them with an eternal perspective.
There’s a constant tension in the Christian life between the eternal and the temporal. Naturally, our minds drift toward the cares of everyday life. Yet we’re called to do two things at once: “Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34) and “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). In other words, don’t let what’s passing away take priority over what’s permanent.
Are you ready to break the cycle of worry? You can’t do it on your own. Because worry is sin, you must confess it to God and repent of it. Then, rest in His promises—remembering that He is a Promise-Keeper. What other attributes of God speak directly to your anxiety? Do you trust Him to be your Provider (1 Timothy 6:17), your Peace (John 14:27), your Refuge (Psalm 46:1), and your Deliverer (Psalm 7:1)? Remember: it’s your old nature that gets anxious, but your new nature enables you to trust God in every situation.
