If you’ve experienced that, you’re not alone.
Researcher Lucas LaFreniere conducted a study on worry that revealed something staggering. Participants wrote down their nightly worries for a period of time, then returned 20 days later to see if those worries had actually come true. The result? 91.4% of what people worried about never happened.
LaFreniere explained it like this: “Worry makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future… it sucks the joy out of the here and now.”
That hits hard, doesn’t it? Worry robs us of today’s joy over things that—nine times out of ten—won’t even happen. Jesus Himself asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). The answer is no. Worry doesn’t solve our problems—it just deepens our misery.
But here’s the good news: Jesus offers us another way.
Rethinking Worry
Too often, we treat Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (“Do not worry,” Matthew 6:25–34) as a command. We hear people say, “Worry is a mild form of atheism because when you worry, you’re doubting God.” That only makes us feel guilty—so we try to stop worrying, which ironically makes us worry even more.
But what if Jesus’ teaching wasn’t meant as a crushing command, but as a gentle reminder? Don’t worry, because your Father has things under control. The birds are fed. The flowers bloom. And you are more valuable than them all.
So, how do we move from worry to trust? John 6:15-21 gives us three principles that can help.
1. Refuel (v. 15)
After feeding the 5,000, Jesus slipped away to the mountain to pray. He had healed, taught, and fed thousands—He was physically and emotionally drained. Even the Son of God needed to refuel in His Father’s presence.
If Jesus needed that, how much more do we? Worry drains us, but prayer and Scripture refill us. Prayer connects us to God’s peace (Philippians 4:6-7), and His Word steadies our perspective (Psalm 119:15-16).
Start small. A short prayer in the morning. A verse taped to your mirror. Small, consistent practices make a huge difference.
2. Remember (vv. 16-20)
As the disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee, a storm hit. They struggled for miles in the wind and waves until suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the water. Terrified, they didn’t recognize Him at first—but then He said, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
Here’s the truth: storms will come in our lives—health scares, financial stress, family crises. But when storms hit, we must remember: Jesus is with us. He promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Even before the disciples saw Him, Jesus already saw their struggle. The same is true for you—He sees your storm, and He is coming to you.
3. Receive (v. 21)
When the disciples welcomed Jesus into their boat, they reached the shore safely.
That’s our call too—to receive Him. If you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, John 1:12 says that when you receive Him, you become God’s child. That’s the first step toward freedom from worry.
But for those who already follow Jesus, receiving Him means surrendering control. Too often, we grip the oars of our lives, exhausting ourselves with worry. But when Jesus is captain of the ship, He brings peace (Isaiah 26:3).
The Hope Beyond Worry
Let’s put it together. To avoid worry, we must:
• Refuel through prayer and Scripture.
• Remember that Jesus is with us in the storm.
• Receive Him as the one in control of our lives.
Here’s the big idea: Worry loses its grip when we focus on Jesus and the hope we have in His life, death, and resurrection.
This doesn’t mean life will be easy. Storms will still come. But instead of being consumed by worry, we can cling to hope—the hope that one day, King Jesus will return and make all things right.
So here’s a challenge: this week, when worry starts to take hold, stop and say: “God is good, and today is a blessing.”
Then pray a short prayer, releasing your worry to Him.
Corrie ten Boom, who endured unimaginable storms, once said: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
Don’t let worry rob you of today. Jesus is here. He is enough.
Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.
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