Proverbs 8: 1, 22-31, Matthew 6: 25-end

Worry! 
Worry is a very human characteristic of our lives; and I am sure we can all testify to times both past and present when we have really worried about both our personal future and the future of God’s world as a whole, Worry about the many scary and threatening  global situations which continue to arise and dominate the media headlines  and the desperate plight of so many of God’s children as well as far less important concerns in the grand scheme of things relating to our own interests.  Worries about passing exams, finding a job, buying a house, about our own  health and perhaps even more  the health and welfare of the ones we love Then add to all these what are in fact miniscule worries as to whether we look good in this outfit, whether we will be on time for a meeting or choir practice or what to do about the black spot on our roses or of course in my case finding one’s glasses for the umpteenth time.

But if we think about it logically worry is so often negative in that we cannot know the future and what twists and turns we may take.  Looking back at my own life so many of the worries now seem quite groundless and I have come to recognise more and more in the wisdom of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel passage:’ So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’ Words echoed by Corrie Ten Boom when she wrote: ‘Worry is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once.’  Or as an unknown author wrote:’ Worry doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles it takes away today’s peace.’ A sentiment that I think we could all recognise as being very true.

And here I think of our Lord who had every reason to worry knowing what had to befall him but in reading the gospel I think it reveals a quiet acceptance of what has to happen while still living out the preceding days concentrating as it were on the here and now and continuing to reveal the love that lies at the heart of  that gospel message; Think of these  words spoken after that  last supper in the upper room: ‘Righteous  Father, the world does not know you but I know you: and these know you that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them,’ Words not of fear filled worry as to what must happen but words of determination to fulfil his mission and make God’s  infinite love for us his children known throughout the world.

And it is his example we are surely called to copy and to heed those words from Matthew not to spend our lives worrying about tomorrow and what may or may not happen but learn to live for the joy of being alive and held always in God’s care. No, life is not always good and there are black days of course weeks, months even, but that has always been so, and worry won’t change it one jot but hope and trust in God will.

Hope and trust that is surely serendipitously echoed in almost all the music chosen for this evening beginning with the Introit ‘O Lord increase our faith.’ Increase our faith in his eternal protective presence; faith that he will accompany us through all, and I emphasise all, the changing scenes of life, both the days of joy and the inevitable worry filled days of trouble and uncertainty. And then there are the words of psalm forty-two which was our anthem this evening ‘Why are you cast down O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.’  My help and my God’ those are words to hold onto when real worries come our way and as we look back perhaps at those deeply troubled, anxious times of our lives  I pray that like me you can see how that help was provided and our faith in God’s protective care and love confirmed and we came through those energy sapping, angst filled worries, those melancholy, uncertain doubts.

Can we  learn to look back at each day as night draws in and recognise  that rather than letting worries overwhelm us and  take away the joy of seeing the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, our faith, our trust and our faith  in God has given us the knowledge of his ever present  watchful,  protective and loving presence..  Surely, we should, when tempted to allow worry to overcome us be it over the state of God’s world or  maybe those test results we are waiting for ,or even where on earth I left my glasses turn again to those wonderful uplifting words of psalm forty-two : ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God. For I shall again praise him, my help and my God.’ 

Worry of itself solves nothing but hope and trust in God can provide that hope, that reassurance that whatever may befall us we are always held within his steadfast love, always held within  the shelter of his almighty  wings.   I would like to end with these words from a poem by Malcolm Guite: That you may find your peace in his good will call out to him and tell him all you fear for he will hear you from his holy hill. Lie down and rest. Let him look after you, and in the morning when you rise again then let him lift your head and change your view, replenish, renovate you, and sustain his long slow blessings in your growing soul, till troubles cease and only joys remain.  And in the sure knowledge of that joy sing that glorious final hymn this evening offering God our praises for all his blessings both in trouble and in joy.