“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Luke 12:25, NIV).

Why do we worry? We think about things that might possibly go wrong out of wanting to save ourselves. We want to avoid these things we’re worrying about. We try to avoid them. We try to control a situation so that we can avoid the thing we’re worrying about. Sometimes we just worry even when there’s nothing we can possibly do about it. Our worrying doesn’t fix any problems. What does worry accomplish for us? Nothing.

In fact, listen to this verse, “…Do not fret—it only causes harm” (Psalm 37:8b, NKJV).

Worrying, the thing we’re doing to try to protect ourselves, may I say save ourselves, is the very thing harming us. We are killing ourselves trying to save ourselves! That’s what comes from playing God, from trying to control, from trying to predict and foresee the future, from trying to understand the motives of others.

Only God knows the future. Only God knows heart motivations. Only God is in control. Only God can work it all out for good, no matter how bad. Let God be God. You trust and give thanks in whatever the circumstance. Give it up to Him. Pray, yes. But pray with thanksgiving, knowing that He does all things well and is always and only good.

Don’t worry. It can do nothing for you, but harm you.