Don’t Worry? Yeah, Right…

Rev. Erik Swanson
November 16, 2025

You can watch the entire sermon here.

When I ask whether anyone is worried these days, I already know the answer. Telling people not to worry rarely works — just like telling a teenager what to do. And when I look at the news, the economy, our health systems, or my own life, it’s clear there is plenty to worry about. So when I hear Jesus in Luke (Luke 12: 22-34) telling us not to worry, it can sound naïve or out of touch.

Letting Go Of Worry Is Good For My Soul

Yet something in me recognizes that letting go of worry, even briefly, is good for my soul. Those moments when I’m not consumed by fear or anxiety feel like breathing again. So if worry can’t add anything to my life, why cling to it? I’m beginning to think this passage is not about suppressing a normal human response, but about shifting my vision.

When I worry, I feel it in every part of myself: my body tightens, my spirit closes, and my mind churns. Worry can steal moments from my life, not add to them. The early Christian community Luke wrote to knew this well — they lived under persecution, where fear was an everyday companion. Jesus’ words would have spoken right into their survival instincts and offered a deeper grounding.

Our Accumulation Culture

This passage also challenges the values of a culture obsessed with accumulation. Ravens and lilies don’t strive or stress, yet they are sustained and beautiful. Jesus invites me not into irresponsibility but away from a fixation on possessions, status, and anxiety about “enough.” Instead of seeking what the world seeks, he calls me to seek God’s kingdom: a reorientation from individual accumulation to communal flourishing. I think about how much could change if even one wildly wealthy person shifted from hoarding to sharing. It’s the kind of dramatic re-imagining Jesus points toward: a different vision of what actually matters.

Worry Can Blind Our Spiritual Insight

Worry also narrows my spiritual sight. When I’m anxious, I lock onto the immediate problem and lose the bigger picture. And right now, there is so much in our country that concerns me: racism that has always been present but is now more visible, biases against LGBTQ+ people, inequities in our systems, and a government often serving the wealthy at the expense of many others. At the same time, sensational stories and scandals can distract me from even larger issues — massive wealth consolidation, a worsening health-care crisis. Worry can blind me to what the Spirit is revealing.

What This Means At Westhope

Bringing this closer to home, even as we enter our pledge drive, I’m reminded to keep perspective. We aren’t raising money for extravagance — we’re simply sustaining the ministry and daily life of Westhope. This community is doing remarkable work: hosting a school, supporting immigrants in detention, standing with LGBTQ+ folks, confronting Christian Nationalism, offering spiritual grounding, and showing up as a welcoming presence in a difficult time. Even when our signs are torn down, the witness they represent matters.

See With Clearer Eyes

So I pray that we can loosen the grip of worry and see with clearer eyes. I invite us all to support the work of this community, because every one of us is needed. Together, we can follow God into the world as bearers of light and love — today and always. Amen.