My daughter just got her driver’s license. I can’t help but worry a little bit every time she leaves the house. I have been told that it is a parent’s job to worry.
But constant worry will wear you down. In worst-case scenarios, it will leave you unable to function.
What is worry? Worry is to meditate on negative thoughts and feelings about unknown scenarios. Through negative meditation, we convince ourselves that something bad is about to happen.
To not worry is not to have your head in clouds without a care in the world. To not worry is not to ignore hard facts. “Don’t worry about a thing, because everything little thing will be all right” is bad advice. Yes, don’t worry. But not every little thing may be all right. Regardless, worry will not make it better. As Jesus says:
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:27 (ESV)
There are some things in the future that you have control over. You don’t need to worry because you have control over them. Do what needs to be done. It may be unpleasant. It may not be easy. But if you can do something about it. Then don’t worry.
There are other things that we don’t have control over. Again, worrying about it is not going to change it. So why worry about it? If you find yourself unable to overcome the worry, consider the worst-case scenario. That may seem counterintuitive. But consider the worst thing that could happen. Realize then that the worst-case scenario is probably not going to happen. But even if it does, you will have thought it through and realized that you will get through it.
You can also talk with God about your worry. God answers our prayers and tells us to cast all our anxieties on him. He is big enough to handle all of them. Be careful here to avoid prayer-worrying. Sometimes worry can be disguised as prayer.
Finally, trust in him. Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God. He goes on to say that when we are seeking first the kingdom of God that God will take care of all the rest. And if God is not taking care of all the rest, then consider if it is the kingdom of God you are seeking first or is it something else.
Michael says
When I did have worry, I thought of Job. In my darkest days and the finality of it all, I remember, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me. And what I dreaded has happened to me.” Worry is both futile and wasted energy. Faith alone is the only safe place.