One of the most startling and challenging commandments of Jesus is this: do not worry.

You may not even have noticed those three little words take the form of a command, or considered worry a "sin" to confess or avoid. But with this simple directive, "Do not worry about your life …" (Matt. 6:25, NIV) Jesus calls us to trust him, and to let go of having to control the outcome of every situation. When we do that, we will have joy, even in challenging circumstances. To do so requires a certain emotional detachment, a conscious letting go of needing to control the outcome of every situation.

It's not that we don't care; we do. But we cast our cares on him, let go of trying to control things that are truly beyond our control. Many of us are professional worriers. In fact, even our prayers are shaped mostly by worry. We get on our knees not to commune with God but to handle damage control for him, to alert him to what's going on in this crazy world and to suggest solutions.

Trust is a choice, ...