Worry and Anxiety

Doug Messerall
Apr 25, 2015
3 min read

We worry about all kinds of things. We worry about the weather, our health, the economy, our nation, our children, our parents, etc. We might conclude we all have reasons to worry, couldn't we? While that my be true, we must be open to realize God gives us many more reason to not worry. Our understanding of God's nature is convincing enough to give us confidence in His ability to care for us completely. Therefore there is no need to worry!

What is worry? Worry is over-anxious concern about the future and things. It is all about feeling out of control of one's destiny. The original word stresses the action and effects ofworry – “to divide, part, rip, tear apart, be anxious, and distract ourattention”. Is concern the same thing as worry? No, worry is concern gone too far. Consider the difference between the two. Concern becomes worry, and therefore sin, when . . .

Proper care and concern becomes focused on changing the future
Proper care and concern become unproductive
Proper care and concern becomes a preoccupation
Proper care and concern cause you to neglect other responsibilities
Proper care and concern damages the body
Proper care and concern leads to losing hope instead of finding answers
Proper care and concern ends with non-function

Worry is looking to control the circumstances of life for my own good. Worry makes the focus of life on self (me). Worry is wrong (Mark 4:14-20 esp. 19; Philippians 4:6)

We have reasons to worry but God gives seven better reasons (promises) to not worry from Luke 12:22-34 (Outline by David Powlinson from “What Good is ‘Don’t Worry’ in Times Like These?”)

Promise no. 1. – There is something bigger going on in life than the things you worry about (12:22-23).
Promise no. 2 – You matter more than crows. God feeds them, and He will surely feed you (12:24).
Promise no. 3. – It’s pointless to worry. Don’t fool yourself by thinking that worry can accomplish something (12:25-26).
Promise no. 4. – God is giving you a life that is radiant and indestructible and full of glory. If God so adorns mere wildflowers with glory, how much more will He make you as radiant as Himself! (12:27-28).
Promise no. 5 – Don’t be anxious for what the world pursues. What everybody else is obsessed with, God puts a distant second. God promises to give you what you need to live on if you NEED Him in order to live (12:29-30).
Promise no. 6 – God promises you Himself and His kingdom if you seek Him (12:31-32)
Promise no. 7 – God promises if we die for Him we will live(12:33-34)

Worry is a universal human experience. We all need an approach to battle it. Here are seven things to do when you start to worry or obsess.

Know what things you tend to worryabout. What triggers anxiety withinyou. Spot the signs and be proactive.
When the signs of worry or anxiety begin, take ahard look at yourself instead of your circumstance
Ask yourself immediately what you are trusting
Consider your poor track record for predictions. Remember worriers are false prophets.
Recognize reason alone cannot push backworry. Seek God who is in control. Admit you need Him.
Meditate on what He says he promises asbetter reasons for not worrying (see the seven promises above from Luke 12).
Talk to God and follow His instruction (Philippians 4:6-9).
Right praying (4:6-7)
Recognize and confess worry as sin.
Thank God for His goal in the temptationof worry
Make a specific request regarding worry
Right thinking (4:8)
Right action (4:9) – redirectworry energy to work energy
Care for someone else. Do what God saved you to do - serve others.