Introduction:
A. The story is told of a man who said to his friend, “I’m really in trouble. I have a mountain of credit card debt, I lost my job, my car is being repossessed and my house is in foreclosure, but I’m not worried about it!”
1. “How can you not be worried?” Asked his friend.
2. “I have hired a professional worrier, and he does all my worrying for me,” said the man.
3. His friend replied, “That’s fantastic! How much does a professional worrier cost?”
4. “$50,000 a year.” “Wow, that’s expensive. Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
5. The man replied, “I don’t know, but that’s for him to worry about.”
B. How many people here this morning would like to learn to worry more? Anyone?
1. How many of us feel that our lives would be better if we could just spend more time worrying?
2. Whether we know worry as an occasional visitor or a constant companion, whether we find anxiety to be mildly uncomfortable or intensely painful, whether we experience worry as a slight distraction or a force that completely immobilizes, we all know we should worry less, am I right about that?
3. So, let’s be honest about it, we all are prone to worry from time to time.
4. Some people worry over the big things, some worry over the little things, but we all worry at times.
5. And for that reason, we need an anxiety makeover.
6. The good news for us today is this: God can help us to manage our anxiety.
7. Worry doesn’t have to dominate and destroy our lives.
C. Now, what I don’t want to do today is to convey the notion that dealing with anxiety is easy.
1. Comedian Carl Hurley relates the fact that it is almost impossible to throw away a garbage can.
2. He said that a garbage can is the one thing you can’t get the garbage man to take away.
3. You set it out there empty with the other full garbage cans, and there it sits when you return.
4. Worry is a lot like that trash can. We want it to go away, but it keeps hanging around.
D. I also don’t want to fall into the trap of giving simplistic analysis nor simplistic approaches to dealing with this subject.
1. Many of you remember Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 song that was a worldwide hit.
2. It was called, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The words are, “Here’s a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note, but don’t worry, be happy. In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry, be happy.”
3. The song had a very catchy tune, and made you smile, but it is not a real solution to worry.
4. Another song that has a similar approach is the Elton John song from the Disney movie The Lion King.
5. The song is Hakuna Matata. The words are, “Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata! Ain’t no passing craze. It means no worries for the rest of your days. It’s our problem free philosophy. Hakuna Matata!”
6. Doesn’t that sound great? We just need to adopt a problem free philosophy, right.
7. Don’t worry, be happy. Hakuna Matata! Don’t you feel better already? I wish it was that easy.
8. Let’s ask and answer several questions about worry.
I. What is Worry?
A. Webster defines worry as: “to feel uneasy or anxious; to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; to fret.”
1. Webster defines anxiety as: “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. A state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.”
2. What we note in both of those definitions is that there is anxiety or worry that we might define as normal or mild, and there is anxiety or worry that is abnormal and severe.
3. Like other emotions that we feel, God has given us the ability to feel anxious.
4. There is a God-given need and function for this emotion.
5. All of us experience anxiety as a normal reaction to threatening, dangerous, uncertain or important situations.
6. Normal or mild anxiety, as I have labeled it, can enhance some people’s function, motivation, and productivity. We might say that such a person works well under pressure.
7. So, some anxiety is to be expected and can be helpful.
B. But there is the other kind of anxiety that we note in Webster’s definition of worry and anxiety.
1. This kind of worry consists of disturbing thoughts focused on fear and danger. This becomes a state of apprehension that cripples the person.
2. For some people it becomes such a problem that it is classified as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). For them anxiety is excessive, and chronic. It interferes with their ability to function in normal daily activities.
3. It is estimated that Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects between 4 and 5 million Americans.
4. Medical research has shown that people suffering from this condition experience irregular levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
5. Treatment for people with GAD includes counseling and drug therapies.
6. I say all this to help us realize that there are different levels of struggle with worry.
7. We should not categorize all people the same way, because we are all different and may require different help to cope with our situations.
C. As we seek to understand what worry really is, I want to also make the distinction that worry is different from “concern.”
1. Last night when I got on my icy, snowy roof, I was concerned.
2. When your child walks to school you might be concerned about their safety on the way.
3. Concern says there is a potential problem or issue and I will do what I can to deal with it. So, we teach our children how to be safe as they cross the street or walk to school.
4. If we were not concerned about our children’s safety, then we would not be responsible parents.
5. But worry goes in a very different direction. As worry becomes excessive, it says, “I’m afraid for their safety, and I am consumed with fear about what might happen.”
6. Worry might cause us to keep them home from school, or walk them to school until they graduate. Wouldn’t you teenagers like that?
7. Now that we have a handle on what worry is, let’s move on to the next question.
II. What Causes Us to Worry?
A. One thing I’m not going to tell you this morning is that there is nothing to worry about. Truth is that there are many things to worry about.
1. Truth is life can be hard. Bad things happen to good people, to bad people and to everyone in between.
2. This might seem depressing to you, and you might say that I’m not helping you not to worry by telling you these things.
3. But I live in a real world, and I want a religion that deals with reality.
4. I don’t want a religion that says, “Let’s pretend.” I want a faith that can stand up and be helpful regardless of what life throws my way.
5. So, one reason we worry is because life is hard.
B. Similarly, we often worry because the future is uncertain.
1. We don’t know what the future holds.
2. Could there be job cuts? Could there be illness? Could there be accidents and terrorism? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
C. Third, we worry because we are not in control.
1. We have the illusion that we are in control, but in reality we are not.
2. We cannot control the future. We cannot control others and their actions.
3. And this lack of control can cause us to worry.
D. Although there are many other causes, let me offer one more. Sometimes we worry because of money.
1. Interestingly, people on both ends of the spectrum, rich and poor, may find themselves worrying about money.
2. The one worries because they may not have enough, and the other worries because they might lose what they have.
3. That’s why I like the prayer in Proverbs 30 that asks God to only give us what we need, not more or less than that.
a. “…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (Prov. 30:8-9).
4. Sometimes we think that if we were rich that we would have no worries, but listen to this verse from Eccl. 5:12 that says, “The sleep of the laborer is sweet, but the abundance of a rich man provides him no rest.”
5. So we think that the more we have, the more secure we will feel, but the opposite is often true.
6. The more we have, the more we have to worry about.
7. There’s a story about a guy who was in a car wreck who stumbled around moaning, “My BMW, my BMW.” A police officer came up to him and said, “Buddy, that car is the least of your problems. Your arm has been cut off.” The injured man looked at his missing arm and said, “My Rolex, My Rolex.” (I know that’s bad, but it’s not far off)
8. Consider this question: Who worries more about their car…the person with the new Mercedes or the person with the old junker?
a. Obviously their worries are different, but they both may be prone to worry.
b. The person with the new Mercedes may worry that it will get scratched or stolen.
c. The person with the old junker may worry that no one will steal their junker (just kidding). They worry that the car will break down and then they won’t have the money to fix it.
6. So we see, money can be the source of worry for many different people for very different reasons.
E. The bottom line is that there are always going to be things to worry about, but the most important question is: what is the solution for worry?
III. What is the Solution for Worry?
A. Turn with me to Matthew 6 and let’s see what solutions Jesus gave us for worry.
1. Let’s read verses 25-27, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
B. The first thing we need to remember is that Worry Accomplishes Nothing.
1. Jesus said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Answer: No one!
2. One man said, “Don’t tell me that worrying does not help. The things I worry about never happen. See it works!”
3. You’ve heard the old saying, “Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
4. I came across a similar statement, “Worry is like putting your car in neutral and revving the engine. It burns oil and gas, and is hard on the engine, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
5. Not only does worry not help us, it often has the opposite effect.
a. Worried about losing your hair? Worry will likely accelerate the process.
b. Worried about getting sick? Worry suppresses your immune system and will make it more likely you will get sick.
c. Worried about losing your job? Worry will probably lower your performance which will lead to losing your job.
6. Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down.”
7. I heard about a family who was traveling down the road on vacation. The mother remembered that as they traveled that same highway two years ago, there was a major bridge that was being repaired, and there had been a backup and a detour. The mother kept ranting about how much she hates delays, and that she was worried that the same bridge was going to cause them trouble. As they neared the bridge, there was a sign that read, “Newly Constructed Bridge – Open for Your Convenience.”
8. Whether the bridge was out or not was not going to be positively affected by the mother’s worrying, but everyone in the car was negatively affected by her worrying.
9. When we are tempted to worry, let’s remember that it accomplishes nothing.
C. Second, let’s remember that God Cares about Us.
1. Jesus asked the question in verse 26, “Are you not much more valuable than they?”
2. God looks after the birds and the flowers, so won’t he also look after us, because we are more valuable to him than they?
3. Psalm 34:17-19 reads, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry…The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
4. When we are tempted to worry we can rest assured that God cares.
5. He not only cares but he also helps those he loves.
D. Third, let’s remember to Put First Things First.
1. Look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:31-33, “So do not worry, saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (vs. 31-33)
2. Often we worry too much because we are focused on the wrong things.
3. Adults, can you remember when you were teenagers and you started to get a pimple?
4. Often it came at an inopportune time (like right before the big date), but we thought it was the end of the world, right? But it really wasn’t.
5. We often have our priorities so out of line.
a. We worry about what we eat, but don’t care enough about what we are doing with the life that the food makes possible.
b. We worry about what we wear, but aren’t concerned enough about what we are doing with the bodies we put those clothes on.
c. We worry about living as long as possible, but we don’t give enough attention to what we are doing with our life, or what will come after this life.
6. Jesus tells us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness.
7. Our main focus and goals should be centered in God’s reign in our lives and in the church.
8. When our greatest concerns are about God’s stuff, then all the other stuff is kept in the right perspective, we will not worry about it and God will provide what we need.
9. Let’s ask this question: what will matter to you 50 or 100 years from now? Not much that is physical, right?
10. But 50 or 100 years from now, everything spiritual will be what is important to you.
11. So, we need to try to keep the other stuff in perspective, and to keep first things first.
E. Fourth, we need to remember to take life One Day At A Time.
1. Look at verse 34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
2. This week our daughter ended up in the emergency room with allergic reactions. I started to let my mind race into the future, and had her so allergic to everything that she had to live in a bubble. I had to calm down my mind and take it one day at a time.
3. I heard about a long-term study of nearly 4000 men. They found that 3 times as many men died of heart attacks on Monday than on Friday. Why is that? Perhaps, because on Monday the man is feeling the stress of the week ahead, but on Friday the work week is over and the weekend is at hand.
4. Compare today with the rest of your life. Today has only 24 hours. The next 40 years has 350,400 hours. That’s 21,024,000 minutes.
5. If we try to think about everything that might be ahead of us, we will go crazy! Right?
6. Have you ever tried to carry all the grocery bags into the house at once? It usually is a bad idea, right?
7. Jesus is telling us to carry the bags in one day at a time. Don’t try to carry them in all at once.
8. Someone wrote:
“There are two days in every week about which we should not worry,
two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.
Yesterday is passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.
The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow
With all its possible adversities, its burdens, or its large promise;
Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.
This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities,
Yesterday and Tomorrow, that we break down.
It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,
It is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday
And the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.
Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.”
8. Don’t worry about yesterday’s mess or tomorrow’s stress, just live in the awareness of today.
9. Here’s an old saying, “Yard by yard, life is hard; but inch by inch it is a cinch.”
F. Finally, remember to Pray About Everything.
1. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)
2. What is Paul saying? Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.”
3. Worry doesn’t help, but prayer sure does. Amen!
4. Paul also wrote that “God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.” (Eph 3:20)
5. Rather than trusting in our own power and wisdom, we need to place our trust in God.
6. Any time we find ourselves beginning to worry, let that be our invitation and reminder to pray.
7. If you hear a rumor of job layoffs – don’t worry about it; pray about it.
8. The doctor wants to run some tests – don’t worry about it; pray about it.
9. Your child is struggling in school, or making poor life choices – pray about it.
10. Take it to God and leave it with God.
11. And what is the result? “The peace of God which passes all understanding will guard…”
12. In a sense we do have a professional worrier, and we don’t have to pay him $50 grand.
13. Someone said, “Before you go to bed at night, leave your concerns with God. He’s going to be up all night anyhow.”
14. I Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
15. We are not in control, but God is. We don’t know the future, but God does. Why not trust Him?
16. Why not let God give us an anxiety makeover?
Conclusion:
A. Let’s review – So how can we overcome our tendency to worry?
B. Remember:
1. Worry accomplishes nothing.
2. God cares.
3. Put first things first.
4. Take life one day at a time.
5. Pray about everything.
Resources:
Based on a sermon series by Rick Atchley.
