Jesus once asked, “Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life?” Being anxious will not add one moment extra to your lifespan. We know Jesus said not to be anxious, but worry is not something that we seem to be able to turn on and off at will. Jesus’ anecdote to worry is that we are to trust in the dependability of God. Trusting in the Lord doesn’t ward off bad things, but it tells you this is God’s world, He is in control, and you are safe in God’s care. Late one afternoon during World War II, a family was sitting on their front porch and an air raid began. They ran for the bomb shelter, but the mother and the daughter did not make it. Homes and buildings were destroyed. After the “all clear” signal, the father and son found that the mother and daughter had been killed. The father sat on the debris of where his home used to be. His son wandered off into the garden area. It was growing dark, and the father, in his grief, momentarily lost track of his son and asked him what he was doing. The little boy said, “Daddy, I’m just watching God hang out the stars.” Remember, in all things, God still hangs out the stars. The anecdote to worry is to trust in the dependability of God who, everyday, still hangs out the stars.
– Dr. Tim Thompson