In life, it seems like there is a lot to worry about. We worry about having enough money to pay the bills. We worry about our health, and the health of our family. We worry about job security. We worry about relationships. We worry about aging. We worry about our children. We worry about our parents. We worry about our future. We worry about our country. We worry about things all of the time. Sometimes the things we worry about may seem small when we look back on them. Like if we had gained a little weight and worried about how we will look in that outfit that we liked so much. Sometimes, the things we worry about are life-changing, like if we have been diagnosed with a serious disease. We worry if our spouse is a few minutes late coming home from work. We are always worrying. So how do you stop worrying?
What! Me Worry?
If you ever happened to be a Mad Magazine fan, you’re probably familiar with the, “What, me worry?” motto by the magazine’s fictitious mascot, Alfred E. Nueman. Unfortunately.for many of us, yes, we do worry. We worry excessively, and we worry about everything.
What Is Worry?
Looking up the definition of the word, “Worry” online, it says, “give away to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.” It also says, “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.”
Can Be A Motivating Factor
A little worry is sometimes necessary to get us motivated to do the things we need to get done. It makes us consider possible outcomes of a situation, and helps us prepare for them. Like if you are in school, and you have a test coming up. Being worried about the outcome of the test might motivate you to study for it. When I was in high school, I played football. All 165 pounds of me. Worry about being knocked around motivated me to hit the weights, and do conditioning drills to make sure I was able to keep up with those big guys.
Why Do We worry?
We worry over situations where we feel we have no control, or where we feel we may lose control. I can remember, many times, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep worrying about certain situations. The only thing worrying did was make it so I couldn’t go back to sleep, so thus I was not only stressed due to worrying, I was also tired. When we worry excessively it can have a harmful effect on us. Some health issues caused by excessive worry are: Insomnia, digestive issues, memory issues, skin and hair damage, heart and cholesterol problems, and stress.
What Does The Bible Say About Worry?
Philippians 4:6-7 says, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Our Father Knows What We Need
Luke12:22-31 starts out with Jesus telling the disciples not to worry about your life, what you’ll eat, and what you’ll wear. He goes on to ask in verse 25, can all your worries add a single moment to you life? Finally, in verses 30 and 31 he says, These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
A Few Scriptures About Trusting In God
Psalm 56:3-When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Proverbs 3:5-6-Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. John 14:1-Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Trust In God
It is obvious by these verses that God does not want us to worry, but to bring our cares and concerns to him. It is a natural thing for us to worry, but our God is supernatural, and he does not want us to worry. Worry is nothing more than fear, and fear and trust are opposites. Trusting God is the cure for excessive worry. When I would wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something, it showed a lack of trust in God.
Take Our Cares And Concerns To God
We take our cares and concerns to God, and we need to learn to leave them there, and trust that no matter what, God will take care of us. We can also trust that if there is something we need to do to alleviate the situation, God will show us what we need to do. At some point, we will be beyond the situation we were worrying about, and we will see just how God moved, whether it was removing, or solving the situation, or letting us know what we needed to do, or even just giving us the peace that we needed to get through the situation. Want to stop worrying over things? Trust in God.
Jesus Says Don’t Worry
In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus told his followers, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Not Even About Clothes
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
Seek First His Kingdom
Here is my favorite part of this scripture, and I think this is key. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it”s own.”
Not Worrying Is Difficult
It can be difficult to, not worry. With the uncertainly of today’s world, it is easy to fall into the pattern of worrying about everything, but as we can see, our heavenly Father does not want us to worry. He wants us to trust in him for all things. Let me ask you to do something. Next time you find yourself worrying, why don’t you pray. Worry will usually not do anything for you, and can even be harmful if it is excessive. Prayer though, bringing your concerns, worries and fears to God, will give you peace.
Pic Of The Post
The pic of the post for this article is my artistic interpretation of worry. It is what I think “worry” can look like. In the picture, there are lines going all over the place. Disturbed lines. Many times, that’s how we are when we worry too much. We’re all over the place. We’re disturbed. It is good to know that God, rather than have us be chronic worriers, would rather have us just trust in him. To view this picture, just click on the “Pic Of The Post” link.
Please feel free to leave questions or comments.