Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? NIV
I can’t. The hours of my life are WAY beyond my control.
I actually like the way the Message, or even the King James version, translates this verse a little better. King James asks, who, by worrying, “can add one cubit to his stature?” I think that the point of this verse is that worry is pointless. Some things — how tall I am — are clearly outside my realm of responsibility. And yet, I find that I can worry about things that, just like my height, I cannot change. So, why do it?
Rather than worrying, my time is much better spent getting to know God through prayer and studying His word; and in being His hands and His feet here on earth. Worry is a distraction from those things. And, it does absolutely no good. Years ago, a good friend gave me a wonderful visual image. She said that worry is like a rocking chair. I can put a lot of effort into rocking back and forth, but, I don’t go anywhere or accomplish anything.
Today, I want to think about getting out of that chair.