Psalm 146:5 (NLT)
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God

Matthew 6:26-27 (NLT)
26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Sounds like a really good deal. Joyful are those whose hope is in the Lord, who feeds the creatures or the world, who takes care of us if we let him.

Yet, we grab the steering wheel and navigate. We steer away from peace to a place of worry and eventually, a place of darkness when we worry to much and the “what if’s” overtake us. I know people who always worry and project all the bad that might happen, missing the joy of now. They aren’t secure with Christ, they are anchored in the world, worried about earthly things, not trusting in God that they are secure no matter what happens or how bad it is. The glass is always half empty when God’s given us one that’s always overflowing.

Matthew 26:38 (NLT)
38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Christ took upon himself all the sins of the earth. He knew what was coming and accepted it for our salvation. Yet, that’s not good enough for us – we know better than to allow His sacrifice to change our worry.

Or, we can accept the gift and live a joyous, fruitful life of peace and service, living in the gift God has given us.

Psalm 143:6 (NLT)
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

John 4:14 (NLT)
14 “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

James 3:13-15 (NLT)
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.