CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
& LIVING

DON'T WORRY
Easy to Say - But Can We Stop Doing It?
George R. Foster

ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WORRY?

Most of us worry. We don't like to ... Don't choose to ... But we worry.

Even though Scripture says, "Don't worry about anything… Pray about everything…" - we worry about lots of things and fail to pray about many things! Worry becomes such a part of our lives that we don't notice when we start, when we stop, or if we ever go.

ON DEFINING WORRY!

What is worry? The Random House Dictionary defines it simply: "to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts." Worry can be about the future or the past - things that might happen or results of things that already have.

But worry isn't just preparation for problems. Worry is an irrational dread of trouble that may never come or that could not be as bad as we imagine. Worry is fear in its most enduring form.

JESUS AND PAUL ON WORRY

Jesus and Paul agree about worry: Both say, Don't do it!

• Don't worry about food or drink.
• Don't worry about clothes.
• Don't worry about tomorrow.
• Don't worry about what to say.
• Don't worry about your life.
• Don't worry about anything!

Jesus says, in effect, Your Father knows you need these things. Seek Him. Live right. The rest will come to you.

Paul cared for churches in several cities, but - locked in prison as he was - he could do nothing for them but write letters and pray. Yet, amazingly, that kept him from worrying. He believed that God would answer his prayers and use his letters. He trusted in the leaders he had trained and he chose to see the positive side in every situation. Even when some preached the gospel for wrong reasons, Paul rejoiced that the gospel was being preached.

REASON THROUGH WORRYING SITUATIONS

Since worry is irrational, we need to reason through situations and ask:

• Have I prayed about it?
• Can I do anything about it?
• Should I do anything?
• What can go wrong?
• How bad will it be?
• What if I do nothing?
• Can I leave it in God's hands?

DON'T DELAY

I have a sign that says, "Don't delay! It won't go away! Do it today!" That tells us - whatever we do - we need to do it decisively. What we should not do is put it off. Procrastination increases our stress. We need to act - even if our action is asking God to act for us.

And we should remember ...

• God is good. He wants what is best for us. He loves to bless us.
• God is wise. He knows that is best. His plans are better than ours.
• God is powerful. He can do what is best. Nothing is too hard for him.
• God is faithful. He promises what is best and He keeps His word.
• God is patient. He waits for us to accept what is best for us.
• God is just. In every test He does what is best. His works are perfect.
• God cares. He feels our pain and is always with us.

Finally, let's not forget ...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way (Prov. 3:5-6 GNB).

For these reasons and many more, we need to let God handle our worries.

Leave all your worries with him, because He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7 GNB).

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