In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us of a truth that is both simple and profound:
“Do not be worried about your life—what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air… Are you not worth much more than they?”
These words come near the close of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He gently confronts the very heart of our anxiety. We worry about our lives, our future, our provision, our worth. But Jesus invites us to rest in the care of a Father who knows our needs and loves us deeply.
At its root, worry grows from little faith. Jesus doesn’t scold us for having small faith. He simply asks us to put even that little bit of faith in a big God.
A Little Faith in a Big God
We often measure our spiritual lives by the amount of faith we think we have. Faith isn’t always about size, but it’s always about placement. A mustard seed of faith, when placed in the infinite God, becomes enough to move mountains.
The issue isn’t whether your faith is big enough; it’s whether it’s placed in the right One.
When we put our trust in the bigness, power, and ability of God—He who is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20)—our small faith finds its strength.
So even if your faith feels small today, place it in a big, big God.
The Sin of Unbelief
When we worry, when we lie awake at night trying to plan or problem-solve our way out of fear, we are often wrestling with unbelief. We may never say the words out loud, but in our hearts we whisper, “I don’t know if God really can. I don’t know if He cares.”
But Jesus answers that question directly. In Matthew 6, He asks, “Are you not worth much more than the birds?” You are not a number to God. You are known, loved, and valued by name. Out of more than eight billion people, He knows your situation personally.
When God Seems Asleep
Remember that moment in the Gospels when Jesus was asleep in the boat during a raging storm? The disciples were terrified, convinced they would die. They woke Him with a question that echoes in our own hearts:
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
And Jesus’ calm response reveals the truth—they were never out of His care. He calmed the wind and waves, proving not only His power but His compassion.
Many of us have asked that same question: “God, do You care?”
And the cross itself answers, “Yes, I care—enough to die so that you would not perish.”
You can rest even in your storm because the same Jesus who slept peacefully in the boat is the one who rules over the waves of your life.
The Source of Our Worry
Much of our worry comes from doubting our worth. We try to prove ourselves to God, to others, and even to ourselves. We want to be capable, independent, in control. But every time we try to handle life on our own, we end up anxious and weary.
Worry is not from God. It grows out of self-reliance and fear.
You don’t have to prove yourself to the One who already approves of you. You are loved because you are His, not because you’ve earned it.
Growing Faith Through Trials
Faith doesn’t grow in comfort; it grows through challenge.
Just as muscles are strengthened by resistance, our faith is strengthened through storms. When soldiers enter boot camp, their trainers tear them down to build them back up into something stronger. In the same way, God sometimes uses trials as “spiritual basic training.”
Even in small things—like joining an exercise class and feeling sore days later—we’re reminded that growth takes strain. You’ve always had the “muscles” of faith; you just may not have used them in a while. When God works those spiritual muscles, it might be uncomfortable, but it’s evidence that He’s building something stronger in you.
So if you’re in a season of testing, don’t despair. God isn’t tearing you down to destroy you. He’s preparing you for greater trust.
Practical Applications
- Name Your Worry. Write down what keeps you up at night, then pray over each one, surrendering it to God’s care.
- Remember Your Worth. When fear whispers “you’re forgotten,” remind yourself: I am worth more than the birds. My Father knows me.
- Shift Your Focus. Switch up where your faith lies, and focus on the greatness of God instead.
- Rest in the Storm. Just like Jesus slept in the boat, practice resting in Him, even when life feels uncertain.
- Expect Growth. When challenges come, view them as faith-training opportunities, not punishments.
If you’re longing for peace that silences worry, we invite you to experience it in community. Join us for Sunday worship at New Vision Church—Sundays at 10:00 AM at 479 Inman Road or 5:30 PM at 193 Johnson Avenue in Fayetteville, GA.
Come grow your faith with people who believe in a big God and a bigger grace.