Why do people worry? Is worry and anxiety really necessary? Here’s how Corrie Ten Boom described worry: “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength—carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom, 1892-1983, was a Christian Holocaust survivor.
The Oxford Dictionary defines worry as “to keep thinking about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems that you have.”
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives the cure for worry and anxiety. He says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat and what you will drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). Food and clothing are the very basic necessities of life.
In a Sunday sermon, my pastor spoke on Matthew 6:25-34, and provided discussion notes from the passage. Here’s an excerpt: “In this passage, Jesus addresses the subject of worry and anxiety. Jesus first gives the command to not worry about our life (what we eat, drink, or wear) because life is more than about what one eats or wears. He then gives the illustration of birds to point out that His disciples are of much more worth than them. Jesus next points out that worrying is foolish because it cannot change our situation. Not one hour can be added to our life by worrying so it is ridiculous to do so.”
Some people seem to worry about anything and everything. The Scriptures give clear teachings on worry and anxiety. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).
Here’s an insightful excerpt from Dr Charles Stanley: “It is no wonder that we feel apprehensive when we measure our troubles against our ability to handle them. Anxiety, however, disappears when we learn to take our concerns to God. He is the only One who has the power and wisdom to deal with every issue perfectly. This is why we stand tallest and strongest on our knees. When we are submitted to the One who always works in our best interest, we know we have absolutely nothing to fear.” (The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible NKJV p. 1435).
As Dr Stanley points out, God “is the only One who has the power and wisdom to deal with every issue perfectly.” We must therefore let go, and let God act on our behalf by “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Our faith, hope, and confidence in God increase when we keep in mind that He cares for us.
Worry is absolutely pointless, senseless, useless, worthless, and negatively impacts our mental and physical wellbeing. Worry leads its victims into a state of anxiety and uncertainty. And the Bible says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down” (Proverbs 12:25).
One of the verses in the pop song “Worry Worry Worry” by The Three Suns reads, “Why always me / I found out that I’m the worrying kind / I’ll go worrying right along / Life is fine, but with a worrying mind / So many things can go wrong.”
The song seems to be saying everything is fine until I begin to worry, and that’s when many things can go wrong.
Worry and anxiety will not change anything. That’s guaranteed. The Lord Jesus asked this question, “Which of you being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Matthew 6:27). Of course the answer is absolutely no one.
The Christian’s resolve should be to live a life of complete reliance upon the God of the Scriptures, trusting Him for what lies ahead because the future belongs to Him. Hence, Jesus exhorts us, “do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).
Let God be God in our hearts and lives. “Trust in the LORD” (Psalm 37:3). “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will act” (Psalm 37:5). “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7).
There is absolutely no need or cause for worry and anxiety when we obey and actually put in practice what the Scriptures teach. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).