Handling Stress Series

Worry, Anxiety and Stress

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/sermons

As we face an uncertain future filled with endless possibilities, it's natural to imagine some of the scariest and darkest outcomes, often replaying them in our minds. These fearful projections, which are usually beyond our control and unlikely to happen, become a breeding ground for stress and anxiety—especially for those with a "stew without doing" mindset. Worry leads us to irrational thinking, where our emotions are suffocated, hope is blocked, and we are drawn into reliving fictitious horror stories born from our own dire imaginations. Even without a specific concern, the pressures of living in a fallen world, with its many tribulations like financial instability, diseases, and wars, feed a cycle of constant anxious thoughts, making us feel as though impending doom is inevitable. How many of you have ever felt overwhelmed by fear of the future? Just raise your hand if that’s something you’ve dealt with. Today's sermon will explore how we often disguise our worries as useful tools to prevent tragedy, but in truth, this is futile. Only God knows and controls the future, and the only way to escape these imagined horrors is to place our faith in Him.

Trusting in Absolutes or in God

As we dwell on these anxieties, we often attempt to find security by clinging to the things we believe will make us happy—our relationships, achievements, or even our health. But as Dr. Stoop rightly points out, “Just as guilt is an attempt to reshape the past, worry is our godlike push into the future, attempting to reshape it the way we want.” When we tie our happiness too rigidly to these desires, we risk being paralyzed in the present by fear of what could go wrong. Whether it's the fear of losing a job, facing divorce, enduring war, or contracting a disease, these "what ifs" can overwhelm us, even though we, as Christians, are given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). The more we build our lives on external, temporary events, the more we realize we're trusting in unreliable sources—mere "security blankets" on shifting sand (Matthew 7:24-29). Just like a character in a horror story anticipating the worst, we can become trapped in fear of an uncontrollable and uncertain future. How many of you have ever felt overwhelmed by fear of the future? Just raise your hand if that’s something you’ve dealt with. But this is where the solution lies: true security comes from building our foundation on faith in God, who remains constant.

The key to overcoming worry and anxiety is to place complete trust in a sovereign God. Jesus teaches in His Sermon on the Mount that “No one can serve two masters... you cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24), revealing that where we place our trust exposes the object of our faith. When we cling to material security or try to control our future, we only increase our anxiety. Jesus questions the futility of worry in Matthew 6:27, asking, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry does not prevent hardship but steals our peace. Instead, we are invited to trust in God's promise that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). Though we will face trials, we can find rest in His sovereignty, knowing He is at work behind the scenes for our good. The battle against worry is won in the mind, where we must choose to trade our burdens for the light yoke of Christ, as He invites in Matthew 11:28-30. He assures us that He will carry our burdens and provide peace. Psalm 91:4 reminds us of God’s protective care, sheltering us under His wings. Trusting God shifts our focus from fear to His unchanging faithfulness, and in even the darkest valleys, Psalm 23 reminds us that His rod and staff guide and comfort us. As Psalm 16:5 declares, God is our portion and sustenance, not our circumstances or achievements, and He will remain faithful now and forever. To see how faith can grow and overcome our fears, let’s turn to the story of Abraham.

Abraham’s Transition of Faith

To answer this question, we need only look at the life of Abraham. Though he believed God's promise to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3) and followed God’s call without knowing his destination (Hebrews 11:8), his faith faltered when it came to trusting God for protection. Fearing for his life because of Sarai’s beauty, Abraham lied and said she was his sister to avoid being killed by the Egyptians (Genesis 12:10-13). He repeated this deception with the king of Gerar (Genesis 20), showing a lack of trust in God’s protection. However, by Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith had matured. When asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he obeyed, believing that God could raise Isaac from the dead to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham's journey illustrates that faith can grow—what began as fragile trust evolved into complete submission, embodying the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6, where faith in God’s guidance leads to unwavering reliance on His promises. Abraham's journey of faith teaches us that trusting in God's promises can lead to peace, even in the face of uncertainty. What steps can you take today to grow your own faith in God’s promises? Is there an area where you’re still holding on to control? But how do we apply this kind of faith when we are confronted with the daily stresses and pressures of life? Just as Abraham grew in faith, trusting God can help us overcome the stresses and pressures we face daily.