Is Worry an Issue for You?

Do you worry? Is worry an issue for you? Does it give you hang-ups? Does it occupy your time and your mind? Does it keep you from having the peace that you need? Does it keep you from resting when you need to rest? Some people are worried that they might get anxious about something! Christians are not exempt from practicing the fine art of worrying. Even though we should walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the desires of the flesh we still tend to worry about things we cannot control.

Someone once said, “It ain’t no use puttin’ up your umbrella till it rains.” Another said, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do but it won’t get you anywhere.” Charles Mayo said, “Worry affects the circulation, heart, the glands, and the whole nervous system. I never met a man that died from overwork but many who died from doubt or worry.” It is not when you are busy that worry infiltrates your mind, it is when you slow down that it becomes evident.

People give many reasons for worry. One worry that gives us hangups is the one where we worry that evil people may be more successful in life than the righteous (we are usually thinking of ourselves at this point). Psalm 37:1 states, “Do not fret [worry] because of evil doers nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.”

You might say, “I’m trying to live for the Lord. I’m reading my Bible, I’m praying, I’m being a good husband, wife, or parent. I’m trying to do all the right things but there are some people at work who are not living for God and they seem to get ahead in life on every little issue!” Sometimes our pride reasons, “Lord I don’t want them to get ahead because if they get ahead then it will look like they’re a better person than I am!”

Another worry infiltrates the little things of life, school, the workplace, and church. It is amazing how much our minds worry about little things isn’t it? We analyze, think through, think it out, and try to be in control of every little issue of life. The little problems of life can be so over analyzed that we miss out on what could be wonderful moments of life.

Our minds tend to wander and examine all the details of life. If your worry is unreasonable then you need to deal with it. Replace wrong thinking with right thinking. Instead of thinking on the negative, quote Scripture and renew your mind to the positive nature of the Word of God. Do as the Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to do:

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 

Matthew 6:34, “therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is it’s own trouble.”