The Burden Of Worry Series

Today, we embark on a journey that I believe will speak to every single one of us.

It’s a series on worry.

Today we start by unwrapping what worry is with the title - “The Burden of Worry.”

Worry is something we all experience.

It’s that

• heavy weight that sits on our chest,

• the nagging voice in the back of our minds,

• the endless “what ifs” that keep us up at night.

Worry can feel like a constant companion, especially in a world that seems so uncertain.

But here’s the truth:

Worry is not just a feeling—it’s a burden.

And it’s a burden we were never meant to carry.

Here’s an example of the type of thing that happens:

Sarah, a young marketing professional, wanted to advance in her career.

When she landed an interview for her dream job, excitement quickly turned to worry.

As she prepared herself for the interview, she obsessed over worst-case scenarios —

• freezing up,

• saying something foolish, or

• making a bad impression.

The night before, she barely slept, and by morning, she was exhausted with anxiety.

Sitting in the waiting room, her heart pounded — until the interviewer smiled and said, “Relax, Sarah.

This is just a conversation.”

The simple reassurance calmed her.

She took a deep breath,

reminded herself to be authentic,

and the interview went far better than she expected

A few days later, she got the job.

Reflecting on the experience, Sarah realized all her worrying had been pointless (even counter productive)

None of her fears came true.

She had spent so much energy stressing over the unknown instead of trusting God.

From then on, she leaned on Philippians 4:6-7 (you know those verses), learning to replace worry with prayer and faith.

Sarah’s story reminds us that worry often magnifies problems that never come to pass — and that trusting God brings the peace we truly need.

So, what is worry?

Worry is the act of allowing our minds to dwell on difficulties, troubles, or uncertainties.

It’s

• the fear of the unknown,

• the fear of failure,

• the fear of loss.

It’s the attempt to control the uncontrollable.

And while it’s natural to feel concerned about life’s challenges, worry becomes a problem when it consumes us.

Corrie ten Boom

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”

Billy Graham “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centred on anything short of God and His will for us.” —

Erma Bombeck “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” —

The Bible speaks directly to this issue.

In Matthew 6:25-27 that we read earlier, Jesus gives a DIRECT INSTRUCTION when he says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

………. Are not much more valuable than they (the birds)? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Answer, “No, but you can take a day off your life by worrying”

Jesus makes it clear:

Worry is not only unnecessary, it’s unproductive.

• It doesn’t change our circumstances.

• It doesn’t solve our problems.

• In fact, it often makes things worse.

Worry (as I said in our last series) can

• rob us of joy,

• steal our peace, and even

• harm our health.

It distracts us from the present moment

and keeps us from trusting God.

But here’s the good news:

God doesn’t want us to live under the burden of worry.

He invites us to cast our cares on Him.

In 1 Peter 5:7, we’re told, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Did you hear that? *All* your anxiety.

• Not just some of it.

• Not just the big stuff.

• All of it.

God cares about every detail of your life, and He wants to carry the weight for you.

So, why do we struggle to let go of worry?

Often, it’s because we feel like we need … to be . . . . in control.

We think if we worry enough, we can somehow prevent bad things from happening.

But the truth is, we were never in control to begin with. God is.

And He is far more capable of handling our lives than we are.

So, if you worry lots, you have Trust Issues!

Do you know what worry does to you?

Physically,

worry can lead to sleepless nights, high blood pressure, and even weakened immune systems.

Emotionally,

it can leave us feeling drained, irritable, and hopeless.

Spiritually,

worry can create a barrier between us and God, making it hard to hear His voice or trust His promises.