Paris terrorist attacks, ISIS, ISIL (whichever you want to
call them), GOP Debates, Democratic debates, presidential elections, Syrian
refugees, and the list goes on. The national news headlines are loaded with
many topics that could cause fear and worry.
Then there are the personal things we deal with. Grades,
tests, mid-terms, job, does he/she like me, is my next pay check going to cover
the bills etc. Or what about the future? Am I going to get married, can we have
kids, will I get the job, will we still have Social Security when I retire?
The purpose of this post is not to cause you to worry more,
but to realize that we worry about everything. Worrying is a problem and it
steals away our life. Jesus said that the enemy of our souls has come to steal,
kill and destroy but He has come to give us life (John 10:10). If worry steals our life, it must be from the
enemy.
The Problems with
Worrying
A brief search on Google about worry will lead you to WebMD
or even Harvard Health Publication and you will learn a lot about the effects
of worry. I hesitate to list them because some of you will just worry about the
effects of worry all the more. Yet we often don’t realize that allowing worry
to rule in our heart and mind dramatically affects our body.
Worry is the emotional response to fear or stress. Often
initiating the “fight or flight” burst of adrenaline. When we worry we allow
our hormones to stay in a heighten state and this adversely affects our body.
God designed our body with hormones to help us through various stages, events
and trials. But we were not designed to stay in a heightened state.
Worrying can lead to anxiety issues, panic attacks, problems
sleeping and digesting food, just to name a few. You were not created to worry
about everything.
You see we are physical and spiritual beings, created in
God’s image. When our spirit is upset it will affect our body. Learning to deal
with worry in a biblical way will help to bring healing to your spirit and your
body.
Steps to Worry Less
1.
Shift your Focus
When we worry, most often we are obsessing
about whatever it is. Our eyes are fixed on and we can’t seem to see past it. It’s
like wearing glasses with blue colored lens, everything you see has a blue hue.
Essentially you have to choose to take the
glasses off and fix your eyes on Jesus every morning (Hebrews 12:2). Listen to
what Jesus tells us to do instead of worrying:
“But
seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
We worry because we want everything to work
out, but worrying will not make everything work out. One person said it this
way, “worrying is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do but it
wont get you anywhere.”
But shifting our focus from our own strength,
our own power and our own control and turning it to Jesus, the One who has
ultimate control. We are to seek His authority in our lives. We are to desire
His righteousness. When we do, He promises to influence our lives and
circumstances.
2.
Be in the Present
When we worry we are thinking about
something outside of our control. Often it is the future we worry about. Our
thoughts of the unknown confuse us and bring fear. Yet Jesus tells us to be in
the present:
“Therefore
do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 ESV)
Don’t
worry about tomorrow, don’t allow the future doubts you have destroy your
today. Instead be in the present. Be alive right now. Be thankful for where you
are and what God is doing.
The
Psalmist says in Psalm 46, ““Be still, and know
that I am God.” Look at what God is doing today. Look at how He has brought you
here and give thanks!
3.
Trust God
Worry is the results of our doubts.
We don’t believe that God is working all things for our good. We don’t believe
God heard our prayers. We don’t believe God’s plan or timing is best. Therefore
we think of all the possibilities for why God won’t give us what we want.
We need to align our thinking with
the Word of God. Jesus tells us about God’s care for the birds of the air and
asks, “are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
God is faithful to watch over the
birds, the flowers and the grass, and you can trust Him to watch out for you.
Jesus didn’t come to this earth to die on the cross for the birds, He did that
for you.
Learn to trust God in all things,
for He cares for you!
Paul tells us, “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.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
Notice what happens when we trust
God by praying and thanking Him…the peace of God comes upon you.
That’s my prayer for you, that you
would know the peace of God. Instead of worrying this holiday season, why not
turn your worry into thanksgiving!
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