Beating the Battle of Worry
Worry. It happens to all of us at one time or another. For many, life is unpredictable and always changing. It’s natural to let fear, doubt, and worry creep in. If you fall into the occasional battle over worry and fear, how much do you allow it to take charge or control over your life?
For me, worry was in my DNA as a teenager and young adult. It was a hidden force in my life for years and I didn’t realize how much it controlled my decisions and choices until I was in my late 40’s. After years of intense Bible study, prayer, and focus on His word I made a promise to God that I would never again be controlled by worry, doubt, and fear. What I didn’t realize is that it would be a journey and not an immediate change.
In the face of everyday problems big and small we may be tempted to create or dwell on the worst-case possibilities. But the truth is that worrying never empowers us, it actually paralyzes us.
When we worry, we allow our valuable time and emotional energy to drain away. Spending a day worrying about our future doesn’t extend it. Agonizing about our financial hardships won’t make them go away. Regretting past mistakes cannot unmake them.
The most damaging part is that worrying separates us from God. Focusing on “what if,” “what should have been,” or “what could have been” rather than “what is” robs us of the power of living now – every minute spent devoted to what God is calling us to do in this moment. Instead of turning to God in prayer, worry calls us to take matters into our own hands. It’s as if we are telling God that things are no longer under His authority and power, but ours.
Yet we can make an active choice to say no more! Rather than focusing on thoughts of how everything feels so out of control, we can choose to turn to God. We can ground ourselves in the truth that He is sovereign. He is the one who holds all things together. Nothing escapes His watch. We can rest assured He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. We can believe Paul’s words that “all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.” (Romans 8:28 GW)
Worst-case scenarios will always exist in this life, but we don’t have to give in to worrying about them. On occasion, some of the hardships may happen to us, but even then, as children of God, we can hold on to the truth that the best possible outcome is also true…. GOD IS WTH US AND HE IS IN CONTROL.