I hate worrying. I’m sure you do, too. Wasting my time thinking about something that hasn’t happened, and according to those who study these things, probably will never happen, is not fun. But, because I tend to overthink things, worry and anxiety have been a part of my life since I was a child. Since I know it’s a part of my life, I regularly pray about it in the mornings, seeking God’s help to enjoy the day. Over the years, it’s been there, and greater victory is mine in Christ.
But recently, worry snuck up on me. I was thinking about an important personal meeting I had coming up. I didn’t want to do it, but it was one of those things where you had to. The meeting went well but created a whole host of other things to deal with. You know, the type of situation where you face one, but now three more are created. It was really no big deal, but it started living in my head rent-free.
A couple of days later, I was talking with my wife and was a bit irritable. I wasn’t even sure why. Two days later, I apologized to her because God revealed to me I was worrying too much. That little conversation interrupted my worry stream, and yes, I was irritable.
It’s a dumb scenario, I know. But that’s how worry is. It’s dumb. It sneaks up on you sometimes and steals your joy, attention, and peace. I wasn’t even really anxious about the situation; at least, I didn’t think so. Yet, there it is, sneaking up on me and robbing me again.
Our bouts and battles with anxiety and worry don’t always have to be huge, overwhelming situations. Big or small, worry will sink you.
Jesus taught us that worry doesn’t add a single moment to our lives.
Matthew 6:24–27 (NLT) ““No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
Six times, Jesus told us not to worry. It’s an integral part of following Him. The word He used means to choke or strangle. The cares of this life tend to take away our attention from faith and trust. Worry blinds us. Worry distracts us. Worry strangles the joy of life right out of us.
I read once how worry can be compared to fog. Did you know that fog covering around eight city blocks contains sixty trillion water droplets? It’s amazing. Yet if you gathered all those droplets together, they would only fill half a cup or just four ounces. What? That half a cup of moisture shuts down airports, ties up cities, and blinds drivers from the dangers ahead.
When I allow some small thing to spread across my life, to blind my thoughts, and to shut down my trust, it’s disastrous.
Sometimes, worry sneaks up on you. In prayer, take it to the Lord today and ask Him to help you. He will.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, seven casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
