Worrying does not resolve your issues. Worrying complicates your life by creating other major issues.
Then Why do we worry? Have Faith and Put Your Trust in God.
“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? (Matthew 6:25).
The things we worry about
Many individuals worry about most things in life; our finances, our children, our physical appearances, the opinions of others, the stability of our jobs, our political parties, our past and our future. We worry so much that we worry about worrying without realizing it.
Why worry?
It appears the easiest and the most natural thing to do when you face a dilemma is to worry about the circumstances.
When you worry, are your issues resolved? Do you feel better? The answers to both of these questions are no. Then why do we spend our time worrying.
I used to worry a lot. It took me many years to realize that worrying is pointless. However, I was tested recently this week. I lost a bunch of keys. These keys were very important and had a flash drive on it. I began to panic. Soon thereafter I realized I was worrying. I was up and down looking for the keys. I called everywhere that I could remember and they said no keys were there. I went for a drive. The plan was to drive to these places that I were but while I driving, I began to relax and accepted the fact that the keys were lost. I told myself worrying will not replace keys. However, soon I calm down, I decided to call one more establishment and asked the employee to please check to see if the keys were there in the particular area. He called back to inform me he found the keys. Worrying did not find the keys.
I know it is easier said than done to say not to worry especially when you do not have any money to pay rent/mortgage or the children’s school fees and when your children are keeping bad company. However, if you worry, you still will not have the money to pay the rent or mortgage or school fees. Your children will stay keep bad company unless you do something different. So why worry.
What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible clearly tells us not to worry as demonstrated in Philippians 4:6 and Matthew 6:25.
In Philippians 4:6, the Bible states “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.
“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? (Matthew 6:25).
What Does Worrying do?
Worrying complicates your life. Worrying does not solve any issues. Worrying results in sleepless nights as individuals cannot go to sleep because they are worrying. As a result of lack of sleep, you will encounter health issues.
Worrying may also cause you not to eat and as a result you body will lack the appropriate nutrients which will create more health issues in your life.
Worrying is a distraction. You may be so preoccupied with worrying in that you may not focus on tending to other issues. In the example of my lost keys, I lost a few hours of the day worrying about the keys. The work that I was planning on doing, I did not do it anymore because I was busy worrying and looking for the keys. Had I relaxed earlier and stayed calm, I would have done the work that I had scheduled to do.
Worrying may also result in you making premature decisions. You worry so much you may make a quick decision without thinking about it.
Worrying also can lead to high blood pressure and stroke. Blood pressure can cause kidney diseases.
How can we stop worrying?
Realize that worrying does not solve your issues.
Be content in every situation especially if you know you have done your best. Even if you think you have not done your best, worrying will not solve the issue.
Train your children on biblical principles. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. If you are concern about the bad company your children are keeping at school, then find another school with less issues or that will better influence your children. Make sure your children are going to church to hear the word of the Lord. Nowadays we find a lot of people are not going to church and the word is not being heard.
Trust in the Lord. Make your requests known to the Lord. Once you put your trust in the Lord, have faith that all things will work out together for good no matter how the situation looks. Have faith in God that everything will work out.
If you find yourself worrying ask yourself the following questions
Are things getting better because I worry?
Do you want your health to be impacted because of worrying?
If the answers to the above questions are no then stop worrying.
Children if you love parents, think about the actions you take. The bad decisions you make will cause your parents to worry about you. Do you want your parents to have health issues? Every time when you are about to do something, think about your mom or dad. Do not disappoint them. Trust me it works when you think about the impact you will have on your parents especially your mom.
Conclusion
I know it is hard to stop worrying. However, if you put your trust in God and study his word daily, then you will have assurance on the promises of God that he will never leave your nor will he forsake you.
Try at least two days without worrying and you will discover an awesome feeling. Continue practicing it until you have a completed a full week and then a full month and so on.
Worrying does not ease your burdens, worrying complicates your life.
Drexwell Seymour
August 12, 2018