"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Luke 12:25

My father, terminally ill with a lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, was losing his ability to breathe. He worried he would die gasping for breath.

The morning he died, my husband and I were visiting and we witnessed his passing – it was as if the LORD took him by the hand and he peacefully slipped away. He did not gasp for breath – he experienced no pain or anguish. Despite all the time he spent anxiously worrying, he had nothing to fear.

We spend our living days worrying about problems looming on the horizon or how our lives will unfold. The Sovereign LORD is the powerful One over the universe as well as the details of our lives. He sets boundaries and limits and He is infinitely creative and wise to fulfill His plans and purposes. Our worrying has no power or influence over outcomes. 

Jesus taught His disciples not to worry. Using birds as His reference, He explains that we are much more valuable to Him than birds. To demonstrate He has authority over life and death – even the very hour when we depart this life, He clarifies that we cannot add a single hour to our life by incessantly worrying.

Jesus says seek first His Kingdom and He will provide the rest – put your treasure and confidence in Him and His Kingdom, not in worrying. 

If my dad could return with timely advice, he would say the LORD is sovereign over life and death – trust Him.

LORD, we surrender our lives to You and all of the things in our lives that are prompting us to worry and be anxious. LORD, please put Your hand on all of these things and release Your power and will so that all things will work together for good. Give us the grace to pray thankfully, trusting You to bring about your plans and purposes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Take Action

Carefully read Jesus’ teaching on worry in Luke 12:22-34. Ask the LORD to show you where you are tending to worry and be anxious. Bring these things to the LORD in prayer. Thank Him that He is able to work in ways that are beyond tracing. Practice leaving whatever is troubling you in His hands – continuing to pray thankfully that He is working whenever the worries come to the surface. Turn your worries into prayers of thanksgiving. Watch what the LORD will do.

Further Reading: The Memory You Leave Behind.



Tags: death worry