Give Yourself A Break And Stop Worrying

April 6, 2003

            Of all the things you have ever worried about, tell me something good that came about as a result.

            What is worry?  I define it as “rehearsing calamity” or a meditating on the worse thing that can happen. It is to feel anxious and uneasy, to be disturbed, harassed or annoyed, to be troubled.  How long could one feel this way and still have good health?

Worry causes a multitude of illnesses and disease.  Instead of “cardiac thrombosis” written on a death certificate, many doctors could write, “worry” as a cause of death.

            One medical doctor reported:  “Worry sets up a general disorganization of the system, makes and liberates all sorts of bodily poisons, throws glands and their functions all out of gear.”

            Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-26:  “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?”

            The great French philosopher Montaigne, said:  “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”

            Many people dwell in the past.  Some can’t worry about today because they are worrying about tomorrow.

            Worry is contagious.  I have heard that a person’s pet develops the worry personality of its owner.  What a terrible thing to put on a pet!

            So what is the antidote of worry?  I can think of several things:

            Count your blessings.  Do you have two eyes that can see, two ears that can hear, two legs that can walk, and two arms that can hug?  If you do, you are blessed.

            Live one day at a time.  An unknown author quoted:  “Yesterday is a canceled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is cash in hand.”

            Rethink your thinking.  Break the habit of negative self-talk and “stinking thinking.”  Reorganize your thought patterns and think on “things that are pure, lovely and good report”  (Philippians 4:8).

            See worry as fear trying to conquer faith.  Consider worry a tormenting plague from the enemy.  Ever time he can get you to worry, he adds to it.  You can eventually be so overwhelmed you collapse.

            Believe and act on God’s Word.  To do otherwise is destructive.  Believe God is big enough to take care of every part of your life.  “Cast all your care upon him; for he cares for you”  (1 Peter 5:7).  Know God is on your side.  Nothing takes him by surprise.  He knows all about you and he can be trusted.  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”  (Proverbs 3:5).  Victory comes through trust and faith, not fretting and being anxious.

            Take the energy you use in worrying and replace it with overwhelming positive thoughts.  See yourself with God’s help and then be successful, prosperous and victorious.

            The greatest antidote to worry is Jesus in you, the hope of glory.  Why?  Because in Jesus you have a love that can never be taken away.

            Throw all your worries away today and have a wonderful day.  After all, today starts a new day for the rest of your life.

            Give all your problems to God.