• Trust in Jehovah Completely in Times of Distress
    The Watchtower—2003 | September 1

    • 7, 8. (a) How did Jesus show awareness that imperfect humans have a tendency to be overly worried about material things? (See also footnote.) (b) What wise advice did Jesus offer about how to avoid undue anxiety?

      7 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus counseled: “Stop being anxious about your souls as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear.”b (Matthew 6:25) Jesus knew that imperfect humans are naturally concerned about obtaining basic necessities. How, though, can we “stop being anxious” about such things? “Keep on . . . seeking first the kingdom,” said Jesus. No matter what problems we encounter, we must continue giving Jehovah’s worship priority in life. If we do so, then all our daily necessities “will be added” to us by our heavenly Father. In one way or another, he will make it possible for us to keep going.​—Matthew 6:33.

  • Trust in Jehovah Completely in Times of Distress
    The Watchtower—2003 | September 1

    • b The anxiety described here is said to be a “worried fear, which takes all the joy out of life.” Some translations say “do not be anxious” or “do not be worried.” But such renderings imply that we should not start being anxious or worried. One reference work says: “The Greek verb tense is a present imperative, implying a command to stop doing some action already in progress.”