Have you ever considered what may be one of the greatest thieves to our peace, joy and happiness? Maybe you have experienced it—one moment you are enjoying the beauty of a day, the fellowship of a friend or the blessing of a gift that was given to you and then it happened . . . the tranquility of that moment flees away as the dark, ominous cloud of anxiety overshadows your heart and mind.

Why does this happen and where did it come from? Simply put, anxiety is a result of taking our eyes off Jesus and His ability and putting it on ourselves or on our circumstances that can shift and change so quickly. Jesus understood the treachery, pain and hurt that anxiety brings in someone’s life when He gave the commandment Take No Thought in Matthew 6:25-26,34. He knew the sinful nature of humankind and their tendency to struggle with anxiety.

So what’s the cure to falling prey to this awful taskmaster who cares nothing about it’s captive!? A powerful yet simple answer to this question could be: consider the goodness of God! Anxiety cannot thrive in the heart of someone who not only recognizes God’s goodness, but keeps themselves in a state of continual gratitude and thanksgiving for it.

You see, at the root of anxiety is our pride. It’s looking to me and trusting in myself to provide what only God can truly give. If we desire to be free of anxiety, we must first recognize and confess our pride and desire to live life apart from God. Secondly, we must choose to set our thoughts on God and His ability by giving thanks for all that He has done and provided for us.

Lastly but most importantly, to stay guarded and protected from falling prey to the trap of anxiety, we must meditate upon God’s Word that contains promises such as “I will never leave thee nor forsake you.” The Bible is the bedrock for not only trusting God but also for resting in His peace even when the storms of life rage! Those who keep their hearts and minds stayed upon God and His Word will experience the promise given in Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

If Jesus commands us to “take no thought” regarding what we will eat, drink or how we will be clothed, how then do we provide for those whom God has placed under our care so as not to become “worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8)?

In the command Take No Thought, Jesus is not reprimanding those who are diligent, wise and prepared to provide for their own — rather the command is a directive not to be anxious. Anxiety is trusting in ourselves or others for what only God can provide. Jesus knew that human tendency would be solely to look to one’s self to be able to provide for their needs, instead of looking to their Creator from where their help comes (Psalm 121). Not only this, Jesus also understood the weakness, frailty and shortcoming of humanity, which apart from Him, can do nothing.

As believers, we should not look to ourselves and our abilities to become self-sufficient, but place our focus on God alone. The command Take No Thought is actually an invitation to depend upon the Creator of the universe and His ability to take care of His creation as He has promised He would. Because God always keeps His promises, we can rest assured that ultimately our provision is not based on our performance or ability, but rather God’s faithfulness to keep His Word! Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from our loving Heavenly Father who deeply cares for His children! (See James 1:17.)