WORRY

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 24, 1876

BELIEVERS have rest. God gives them this great comfort. Worry comes from doubt. It nearly always arises from foreboding evils that never come, or doubting promises that are sure. Usually, neither joys nor sorrows are what we anticipate. Why not wait, then, till they come? The present is all that we know with certainty; why, then, take thought for the future? David says, “I hate vain thoughts,” and so should we; and do not most of our fears and many of our hopes and desires prove to be utterly vain.

Our Saviour forbids anxiety when he says, “Take no thought for the morrow.” Forecasting is well if seasoned with trusting; looking ahead is proper if we look in hope and allow for unseen results. Our greatest griefs are unexpected; our highest joys break suddenly upon our hearts. The connection of divine agency with human action is such that no one can forecast the future exactly. Often what we most fear is changed to blessing, and what promised highest pleasure drives thorns to our hearts. Will worry turn our hair white or black? It whitens hair without cause, excludes peace where the Lord would give it, exhausts life where rest is offered, creates evils out of good, begets fear where no fear is lawful, prevents blessings that are sent to our doors, consumes energies needed to win success, invites enemies that hope would repel, grieves the Spirit and hinders his gracious helpfulness. —Sel.