Worry, the Sin that can easily control your life.
Worrying is feeling uneasy or overly concerned about a situation or problem. It is our defense mechanism to prepare us for “what might happen.”
In the midst of worrying, you may suffer with anxiety or even panic during your waking hours. Many worriers tell of feeling a sense of impending doom or unrealistic fears that only increase their worries. Excessive worriers begin to see anyone or anything as a potential threat.
Because worrying can be so taxing on your daily life, many people seek relief in harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating, cigarette smoking, alcohol or drug use. Here are just a few negative effects on the body.
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability
- Nervous energy
- Shortness of breath
- Suppression of the immune system
- Muscle tension
- Short term memory loss
- Heart attack
In the Bible, worrying is often associated with doubt, fear, and lack of trust in God. It is portrayed as a sinful behavior that can lead to anxiety, stress, and other negative consequences.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus delivers a powerful message to his disciples about the futility of worrying and the importance of trusting in God's provision and care. This passage is a powerful reminder for us today that we should not be consumed by anxiety and fear. Worry immobilizes us, but trust in God moves us to action.
Jesus goes on to ask a simple yet profound question: "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" This challenges us to consider the uselessness of worrying and how it is detrimental to our well-being. Daily we face new challenges, concerns, problems, and choices. Will we worry, or will we pray? Will worrying be of any help whatsoever? Worry may damage our health, cause the object of our worry to consume our thoughts, disrupt our productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others, and reduce our ability to trust in God. Worry may, in reality, takes time away from our life span rather than adding to it. It accomplishes nothing.
Instead of worrying, Christians are encouraged to pray, seek God's kingdom first, and trust in His promises.
Philippians 4:6 (NLTse)
[6] Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Jesus did not create us to live under the weight of worry. In verse 25 of Matthew, He tells us not to worry about everyday life. Most of us have so many what if scenarios going through our minds that we can’t enjoy the moment-by-moment blessings God is giving us each day!
Learn to filter your thoughts though the guidelines of Phillipians 4:8.
Philippians 4:8 (NLTse)
[8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
God teaches us in v. 33 to “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Let us remember that worrying is unnecessary and unproductive, and that God's love and care for us far surpasses anything we could ever imagine. Let us trust in His provision and rest in His peace.
Because God cares for his people's needs, Jesus says in v34, “Don't worry about tomorrow.” Jesus explained that what we worry about happening tomorrow may not happen, so we will have wasted time and energy worrying. We need to reserve that energy because today's trouble is enough for today. We only add to today's burdens when we worry about the future. All the anxieties about tomorrow will not change the outcome, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. The burdens of today are enough, so let God take care of them. We must trust God for today without worrying about tomorrow.
God’s Promise: What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? (Romans 8: 31-32, TLB)
God’s Position: Don’t worry about everyday life whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon and all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don’t worry about not having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. And He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34,TLB)
How to Stop Worrying: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (petition), with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7, NKJ)
God Is on Your Side: Oh, thank the Lord, for he’s so good! His loving kindness is forever…. In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me. He is for me! How can I be afraid? What can mere man do to me? The Lord is on my side; he will help me…. It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men. (Psalm 118:1, 5-8, TLB)
Cure for “Bad Nerves”: A single constant affirmation that the everlasting arms of God are holding you up, repeated hour by hour, will often bring you out of worries and fears. The only complete cure for your bad nerves, as you call them, is to relax in the hands of God and know that He is now looking after your troubles, that He is now guiding you into the quiet waters of inner peace.
The Bottom Line is…. How can we understand the road we travel? By understanding it is the Lord who directs our steps….