What do you worry about?

What do you worry about these days?  Is it the scary things you see on the news? Sharks? Politics? Terrorism?  Or is it the everyday things of life like sickness, lack of money, what people think of you, if you have something in your teeth? Whatever it is, you are wasting your time.  Your worrying doesn’t help one bit.  Stop it!  Now!!!

Here are some of my favorite quotes on worry:

Worry is a misuse of imagination. – Dan Zadra

“Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.”– Dale Carnegie

“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.” – George F. Burns

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” – Winston Churchill

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  – Jesus (Mt. 6:34)

Worry causes us to miss out on the beauty of the present moment by living in an imaginary future that will never happen.  You actually miss your life by living an alternative reality you made up in your head about possible scenarios that will never happen.  It is exhausting and a huge time and energy waster.  So what can you do instead?

What the Bible Says

1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you.”  Did you realize you could just throw it to Jesus?  You can.  He has you.  Just as Jesus says in the Matthew 6 passage I quoted above, God takes care of birds and flowers and he can surely take care of you and those you care about.  But when you hold onto anxiety and worry you empower it and give it the ability to control you.  Give it to him.  Confess that it’s wrong and let him carry it.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

Sunday at Mountain View Church we are going to be talking about how to put this into practice and hearing from a recovering chronic worrier who will tell the story of how she has been overcoming it.