Worrying
is more than just an uneasy state of mind. It creates a mental outlook where
negative projections of the future produce paralyzing fear in the present.
Usually, the path to worry begins with pessimistic thoughts that are fuelled by
fear and anxiety. As time goes by, those thoughts are transformed into vivid
mental dramatizations of adverse events, which almost always, never happen. Yet,
we are all vulnerable to worrying. Our very ability to think, analyze and reason
provides the breeding ground for worry. In fact, persistent worrying depletes
constructive thinking and weakens the spirit, offering nothing in return but
hopelessness. Still, regardless of our instinctive nature to worry, we are not
predestined to remain its victim. We can choose another path for dealing with
life’s challenges, and escape the perils of worry. Jesus says - “Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”
– Matthew 6:34. With this
command, Jesus is telling us in a very practical way to deal only with each
day’s issues because it is futile to spend time worrying about the future,
especially when we have little or no control over it.
Excessive worrying has been shown to have a negative effect on us both
physically and psychologically. Medical research identified chronic worrying as
a common factor among people suffering from illnesses and disorders such as
depression, anxiety attacks, stomach ulcers, headaches and even heart disease.
Yet, the adverse effects of worrying are not limited to our minds and bodies.
Jesus teaches that most significantly it affects our spirits too. His teaching
characterizes worrying as a spiritual problem. In sermons and parables Jesus
presented worrying as a lack of faith and trust in God - “If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you--you of
little faith!” Thus when we worry it is as though we are saying God
cannot help me. To illustrate the futility of worry, Jesus draws our attention
to flowers and birds. He says to us “Consider
the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor
barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?
Luke 12:24. Similarly of flowers Jesus says, “Consider
the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you,
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” - Luke
12:27. But to bring His message into sharp focus, He poses these questions – “Can
all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:27
(NLT)
and “And which of you with taking thought can add to
his stature one cubit?” Luke12:25. Clearly, He is saying that worrying
never adds value; it takes away our peace of mind, our health and can ultimately
take our lives. But we can trust God’s power to help us overcome worrying and
remove barriers -John 16:33
At every turn, life presents numerous opportunities for worry.
Unpredictability is a major factor that can generate immense fear; and is the
main catalyst for worry. Hence the reason so many people live in a constant
state of anxiety and pessimistic expectations. But Jesus tells us that we do not
have to face our problems alone. He says – “Come to
me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest…” Matthew 11:28-30. This means that we can triumph over
adversity when we bring our cares and fears to Him. But first we must believe
and trust God that He cares about everything in our lives. Our faith motivates
us to pray and expect release of God’s power in our lives - Mark 11:24.
“Therefore
I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive
them, and you will have them.”
No situation or circumstance is too
great or too small to bring to God - Mark 10:27. When we seek Him first, we do
not have to worry, because God is always ready to give us only what is best,
regardless of the situation we are facing –-
Matthew 6:33