Worry - How do we stop?
Worry is something that is very common in today’s world. In fact all of us worry about something from time to time: finances, jobs, relationships, or even the future. Because worry is commonplace in the world, doesn’t mean that we are supposed to make this a habit in our lives as Christ followers. The Bible is very specific about worry, in fact, Scripture commands us not to worry.
Let’s look at a few verses to set the stage about worry:
Scripture commands us in Philippians 4:6 to “be anxious (worry) for nothing.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” If this is a command from God and we don’t adhere to it, we are in essence going against what the Holy Spirit is telling us to do. From previous blogs I've written, we discovered from Jesus, in Matthew 6:30 that the root of worry is unbelief. This unbelief can cause us to stumble because we create a potential foothold for the enemy to come in and attack us in our minds. Unbelief is our faith under attack, it doesn’t mean we don’t have faith. When we recognize the tactics of the enemy to derail our thoughts and our life - we can then fight back with intentional prayers and Scripture.
But worry does not only affect us spiritually, it also can take a toll on us physically. Long term stress and worry can result in upset stomach, fatigue, high blood pressure, ulcers, irregularities and palpitations of the heart, and even heart attacks. 1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us that “our body is a temple, that the Spirit of God dwells in and we are not to defile it.”
Lastly, worry steals our joy for today. It is a time waster. Worrying consumes an inordinate amount of time that could be better spent thinking and doing things that are eternally profitable. Ephesians 5:15 tells us to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Overall, worry is more counterproductive than proactive when facing a problem. It is one thing to be concerned about a problem you are facing. It is quite another to be worried about how that concern may adversely affect you at some point in the future. We should be prayerful about how we are going to deal with concerns and how to develop a God-honoring plan to keep potential adversity from happening. It’s wrong to anxiously focus your attention today on what may go wrong tomorrow, as if the Lord were not going to provide for or protect you.
So what is the solution?
I often tell my clients that God gives us just enough for today. When Jesus teaches us to pray, in Matthew 6:12, He says “Give us this day our daily bread.” Tomorrow will take care of itself. In your prayers and thoughts, ask the Lord to give you enough just for today. Actively catch your thoughts and submit them to Christ consistently. This is the key to battling negative thoughts of unbelief and worry. Also, use specific Scripture to speak over yourself and your life which will help battle the enemies attacks on your mind. Overcoming worry won’t happen if you don’t put these things into action. You have your part and the Holy Spirit has His. 1 Peter 5:8-9 tells us to “Cast all your anxiety (worry) on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith.” This requires us to have a disciplined mind and thought life. It also tells us we have a role. This role insists we have a focused mind and to resist the enemy, by standing firm in our faith. Our faith is anchored in this - Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
*If you are struggling with chronic worry - schedule an appointment today and let’s create an action plan to help you. Also be sure to subscribe to receive newsletters about upcoming workshops on this topic and more!
