Overcoming Worry

by Lisa Kennedy | More from this Blogger

22 Jun 2006 11:15 AM

One of the biggest struggles I have in my life is being overanxious and worrying about things. I allow myself to get stressed out too easily-not necessarily over one thing, but when the little things add up. When I allow myself to worry or get stressed over the little things, I am forgetting someone very important in my life: God.

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, speaks of being anxious and worrying.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Learning to not worry and learning to not be anxious takes time and a lot of work. It is very easy to fall into the habit of fretting over every little thing in one's life (I know because it has happened to me). Worrying can be a sign of a weak faith in the Lord. Christians should be constantly striving to strengthen their faith in the Lord through the Word. In Philippians 4:6 Paul wrote that Christians should, "be anxious in nothing."

How can one overcome worry and anxiety? For me personally, one of the greatest helps has been prayer. When I take my cares and thoughts to the Lord I am greatly comforted. Another way to overcome worry and anxiety is to study the Word of God. Studying the Word reminds one that the Lord is in control of everything in this world which He created. Finally Christians can overcome worry and anxiety by leaning on other members of the church for strength and support.

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Melissa J (13710) 22 Jun 2006 04:35 PM

Great message Lisa. So important and yet how easily we can forget.

Kay M. (300) 27 Jul 2006 06:13 AM

How ironic! I am currently reading the book of Matthew this week. We all have trouble with anxiety now and then. Some of us have more trouble in this area than others. I have had to really teach myself to let things go since becoming disabled. I don't want to be bitter and depressed all of the time.

It would be great to do a secondary article on this subject and actually list some deeper strategies for relieving stress and anxiety once you have given in to anxiety. I plan to do some articles on stress and anxiety myself. (I applied to be a blogger yesterday--cross your fingers for me)

It is always good to see other Christians setting a good example for others on the Internet. Thanks for sharing this wonderful message.