Matthew 6:25-43 is probably the most well-known passage of the Bible that deals with the problem of anxiety. In these verses, Jesus gives us six reasons not to worry

1) Worry obscures what is most important in life.

People tend to worry most over temporal issues – finances, deadlines, the opinions of others. Stressing ourselves out over these things can make us forget matters that are far more important. Do I have a grateful heart? Am I delighting in the people I love? Do I live in the joy of God’s presence? These are the questions I should be asking, not: How do I look in this shirt?

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matt. 6:25)

2) Worrying does not help and it might even hurt.

Jesus said, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matt. 6:27) The answer, of course, is No.

The Huffington Post reported on a study in which subjects were asked to record their worries for an extended period of time and then determine which of their concerns came to pass. The results indicated that 85% of the things we worry about never happen. In the meantime, the article explained, stress can lead to problems such as: shrunken brain mass, lower IQ, heart disease, premature aging, marital problems, depression, family disfunction, and dementia.

3) Worry overlooks the faithfulness of God.

Jesus said: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? … “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matt. 6:26, 28-30)

We have a faithful heavenly Father. He cares for plants and animals. We can be sure he will attend to the needs of his beloved children, bought with the blood of his only Son. To live in worry is to deny the faithfulness of God.

4) By living in worry, we stoop to the level of the godless world.

We live in a culture enslaved to the shallow values of materialism, consumerism, vanity, and a lust for power. When we allow our hearts to be filled with worry, we place ourselves in danger of conforming to the world. 

Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”(Matt. 6:31-32)

5) Worry can make us miss out on the present moment.

Today will never come again. Did you miss it because you were focused on tomorrow?

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:34)

6) We have a clear promise from God that makes worry entirely unnecessary.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)