Still more economic bad news this week. How are you handling it?
Hakuna matata! 1
No worries! 2
“Don’t worry, baby, everything will turn out alright.” 3
“Don’t worry; be happy!” 4
That’s what Jesus taught, right?—“Don’t be anxious; don’t worry.” 5
No, not really. Timon & Pumbaa deflect responsibility with, “Who cares?” Their stress-coping mechanism is “Whatever!” It’s really just survival by denial.
But Jesus never taught avoidance, positive thinking, centering, or any other coping strategy. His expectation was that we trust God in the face of crushing circumstances. Since God is fully in control, always good, and always loving, He’s completely trustworthy.
What is trust? Trust is that settled conviction within that God will do as He promised, no matter the howling winds of uncertainty or the crashing waves of crisis.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.6
2 Most common phrase in the Australian vocabulary, according to UrbanDictionary.com
3 Beach Boys’ 1964 hit single “Don’t Worry, Baby”
4 Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 hit single “Don’t Worry; Be Happy”
5 Matthew 6:25-34
6 Psalm 20:7