It seems as though our world is full of worry today. We worry about the price of oil and how gas prices may soon be $4 a gallon. We worry about our greenhouse gas emissions and how we are ruining the atmosphere for future generations, how in essence our actions are destroying the world. We worry about our economy. As I listen to the news I hear that the dollar is getting weaker and weaker. While I don’t quite understand what that means, I know it is not good. We worry about our kid’s future whether they are going to be alright. We worry about our own future whether we are ever going to be able to retire. We worry about the bills that seem to keep piling up. There is no end to our worry. After one thing is settled in our minds another pops up. After God takes care of one problem another one is right there to replace it.

What is it that makes us worry? Why, after God has promised us that he will care for us and give us what we need, do we continue to worry day and night? Why, when we know that our lives are safe in God’s hands, do we seem to forget that very fact?

Let me tell you why. We all have a sinful nature. Because Adam and Eve lost the image of God, and we are children by birth of Adam and Eve, we too have lost that image. We have the curse of sin upon us through our conception and birth not to mention our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds.

Therefore, because we are sinful and do not have the complete image of God in our human nature, we are unable to live perfect and, as some of my Christian friends from another denomination would put it, “obedient” lives. If we were able to live obedient lives, if we were able to “obey the Gospel”, then we wouldn’t have need of a Savior. We would be able to get ourselves to heaven because we would be considered perfect.

Yet, since we are not perfect, we continue to fret about things over which we have no control. We continue to think that we are actually in control of our own lives when we should know full well that we are not. Sure we can make the money. Sure we may have certain talents. But what if God would take that all away? Would we still be okay? Would we still have peace, or would we lose it?

As human beings created by God we need to be able to say every day, in good times and bad, as David said: “From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” We need to be able to say as Paul says, “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” We need to be able to trust in what Christ says: “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me”, or when he says, “Behold, I am with you always to the very end of the world.”

What happens when you put your trust and your confidence in the things of this world or in your own abilities? Your confidence is lost. Your trust is broken. Your hope is gone.

On the other hand, what happens when you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Your confidence is strengthened. Your strength is renewed. Your hope is restored. Your faith is sure! You have that peace that no one can understand!

Thanksgiving is only a week away. Although it is a national holiday it is also a day, as every day is, to count your blessings. Wherever you might be and whatever you might be doing, count those blessings, especially the one that is your Savior Jesus Christ, the biggest blessing of all. As you count them, watch your cares and worries melt away and a peace overtake you that comes from the knowledge that everything is going to be alright because of what Christ has done for you on the cross and where he will take you at life’s end! Give thanks in peace! Amen!