Worry – is it damaging your health?
We usually worry when we are faced with a problem that seems too big to be solved. If you are a student you may worry about whether you will pass the exams you are about to sit. If you are a parent you may worry about whether your child will be successful at school. If you have a close friend going into hospital for an operation you may worry whether he or she’s health issues will be resolved after the operation.
However, the Bible tells us that we should trust in God rather than worrying.
Trusting in God
Sometimes in our life we will find ourselves in a situation where it appears everything is stacked against us. It seems like it will be almost impossible to get past the problem we are faced with. We go on day after day trying to fix the problem. Yet, if only we would trust in God.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs Ch.3:5-6)
Don’t worry and try to do everything yourself. Rather than you struggling with the problem and relying on your own judgment, put your trust in God and rely on him to direct you.
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).
Let God help to take care of the problem.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)
Worry and anger
Worrying about something can lead to anger.
Stop you anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry – it only leads to harm. (Psalm 37:8)
Anger and worry (fretting) are two destructive emotions. They reveal a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control. When you dwell on your problems, you will become anxious and angry. But if you concentrate on God and his goodness, you will find peace.
Understanding the harmfulness of worry
Worry can have ill effects in your health and quality of life. Worry may:
- damage your health
- cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts
- disrupt your productivity
- negatively affect the way you treat others
- reduce your ability to trust in God.
Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew Ch.6:25-34)
When we worry, we are lacking faith and forgetting that God is in control. Give God the first place in your life and turn to him first for help. Recognise your own helplessness and ask God to provide strength to cope with the situation.
If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:9-11)
Life is not mean’t to be easy
Even though God promises to protect us, he has never said that he will make our lives easy.
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:19)
When we experience troubles in our life, rather than worrying about them we should look at them as developing our character and teaching us to rely on God.
He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2)
A limit to troubles?
God will limit the troubles that we face as he does not want us to be tempted to sin.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Prayer is the answer
Instead of worrying about everything turn your worry into prayer.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. (Philippians 4:6) The Living Bible
Do you want to worry less? Then pray more!
True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Let God’s peace guard your heart against anxiety.
