Month: February 2026

There’s a small moment in the film Bridge of Spies that has stayed with me far longer than any of the dramatic scenes.

A captured spy sits in prison, waiting for trial. The outcome could mean prison — even death. His lawyer keeps asking him, “Are you worried?”

Each time he simply replies:

“Would it help?”

No speeches. No bravado. Just calm.

And he’s right. Worry wouldn’t change the verdict. It wouldn’t shorten the wait. It wouldn’t fix tomorrow.

The weight we carry

Most of us walk around carrying invisible loads:

• bills and budgets
• deadlines and emails
• family concerns
• health worries
• church responsibilities
• the quiet “what ifs” at 3am

We treat worry as if it’s productive — as if anxiety equals responsibility.

But most of the time it just exhausts us.

Jesus says something surprising

In Matthew 6, Jesus says:

“Do not worry about your life…”

Not because life is easy.
Not because we stop planning.
But because worry itself doesn’t help.

It can’t add an hour to our lives. It can’t secure tomorrow. It can’t control what we can’t control.

It simply makes us tired.

Trust isn’t carelessness

This doesn’t mean irresponsibility.

Faith isn’t foolishness.

We still insure the car. We still save money. We still plan wisely. We still love our neighbour.

We act where we can.

But we stop panicking about what we can’t.

The Serenity Prayer puts it beautifully:

accept what you cannot change,
change what you can,
and have the wisdom to know the difference.

Notice — not “worry harder.”

Accept. Act. Trust.

A different way to live

Jesus reminds us that we have a Father who already knows what we need.

Before we ask.
Before we strive.
Before we panic.

We are seen.

So discipleship isn’t careless living — it’s steadier living.

We do what we can.
We entrust what we can’t.
And we leave the weight of the world with God.

A gentle question for this week

Are you worried?
Would it help?

If the answer is no, place it back in God’s hands.

Then breathe.

Maybe even sleep.