Bulletin Article
July 29, 2001

Worry Wart

(by Doug Long)



Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 6:26-34

26 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?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 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?

31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

These verses go hand in hand, and they are comforting. But they require some work on our part. During the last several months I have been unsure of my job status. In fact I thought I would be laid off. The condition of not knowing what would happen caused me a lot of distress, and I worried about my future. But this story isn't so much about me as it is about the human condition. Lets face it, we are worriers. As a species we tend to worry. We make up things so we can worry even if we don’t have anything to worry about. It amazes me the human capacity to worry. There is a whole industry built around worrying and the stress it creates. Think of all of the health supplements, and herbal teas, and audio tapes of nothing more than the ocean waves crashing to shore, not to mention the feel good seminars. When I worked for another company, they actually sent me to one of those seminars. I really started worrying about the companie's future after that. Now it is obvious to me that sometimes the audio tapes are relaxing, and they help. The tea tastes good and is relaxing, and I suppose you could get something out of one of those seminars. However I don't think these solutions address the root of the problem. They merely treat the symptoms. The only solution to worry is to put your trust in God. I really mean trust him. Read the Bible, and pray to him. When you get worried and anxious, pray even harder. God will hear you, and he promises you will feel better. I know this because I did it, and it works. When I would come home and see my kids, I would start to worry, then I would pray. When the transmission went out in one of our cars, I worried, then I prayed. When the engine in the other car needed to be replaced, I worried some more. I prayed, I studied the Bible, I talked to Christian friends and I felt better. God's Love is the solution to the root problem.

BACK TO START