Worrying is something most people do every day. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, man or woman, black or white or of any other race, we all worry about something from time to time, if not daily. Growing older we fend off some worries, but frequently those are replaced with new troubles. As Christians, we have been expressly told not to worry. We have to learn how to stop worrying so we can deal with the meaningful aspects of our everyday lives. I know, easier said than done! But we have scriptural guidance support. Worry or “worrying” is so unimportant it is mentioned less than a dozen times in the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible.
One example therein is Matthew 6:25-34, which is titled “Do Not Worry.” Those words tell us, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
The same Matthew line from the 1599 Geneva Bible starts as, “Therefore I say unto you, be not careful for your life . . .” Moreover, in the 1599 Bible, “worry” is not mentioned a single time.
Referring back to the NKJV, Philippians 4:6 interprets the words “worry” and “be not careful for your life” as; be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
The topic of this essay deals with how we should strive to manage worry and anxiety, which all of us face in life time after time. The Amplified Version of the Bible states it this way, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything.”
Standing against worry and anxiety is one of the subjects of the NKJV New Testament. Jesus Himself taught that we should have no anxious thought for tomorrow, or for what we should eat or drink, or about what we would wear.
Yet, for many people, being tranquil and not distressing over anything is seemingly impossible. How can we fight fretting over things? The answer, of course, is to consult the Bible and do what it says to do. And that’s where faith comes in because it takes faith to obey the word of God. So, let’s look at this passage in Philippians 4:6-7 and see what the Bible says for us to do concerning worry, anxiety, or fear. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The writer of this verse, Paul, tells us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not be anxious for anything. In other words, do not be worried or fretful. These are the divinely inspired word of God to us, not merely the suggestions of a man.
But many folks exclaim, “You don’t know what I’m going through. There is no way I can't worry!” Answer this, would the Lord tell us to do something we are not capable of doing? The answer is no. He would not task us to do something we could not accomplish. So then, your worrying can indeed be stopped, if you work at it. Nobody is “under the thumb” of something we cannot control, for God has given us the ability, by faith in Christ, to refuse worry's ability to rule over us.
Yes, that might sound idealistic, even radical, but this was a truth for both Jesus and Paul. If we’re not supposed to be nervous or worried about things, then what are we to do? We're going to do what the Bible tells us to do. Take our troubles and fears to the Lord in Prayer.
Notice that Paul says to pray with thanksgiving, by giving thanks. This is not thanking God for the problems or issues, but thanking Him in advance for the solution to your concerns. Can you, or should you, fret and worry while giving thanks? No! Giving thanks stems from faith, whereas worrying and agonizing come from fear. Let's all take every problem in our requests to the Lord by prayer and faithful trust in Him. Then when everything works out, we need to be thanking Him that He is with us and that He is faithful in helping us.
Hebrews 13:5, Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Ever heard a Christian cliche that said, “let go and let God.” It can be just that simple when we take our problems to the Lord in prayer, then let go and leave the resolution to Him. The idea is, that if we continue to worry and stress, we have corralled our troubles back in our own barnyard and bear the weight and stress of resolution all on our own. So, we must release everything to God's control.
This is all about placing full faith and trust in the Lord. It’s about removing the burdens off our shoulders and allowing the Lord to take over eradicating or mitigating our concerns. Once we’ve prayed about it, let it go! Refuse to have another troubled thought about it.
Can all that be done effortlessly? No, it takes faith and persistence to lay away those troubles that hassle us. But aren't the results worth our extra efforts? Philippians 4:6 gives great advice, so it bears repeating, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
As a side thought, while we should take all our troubles to the Lord in prayer, as far as mental health and personal attitude adjustments go, most of all that responsibility should fall squarely on our own shoulders. We should do what we need to do—what we can do without calling out to God to babysit us everyday.
Money and health, most often, seem to be two important considerations senior people are concerned about, and some find themselves stressing over those issues almost continuously. Arguably, worrying over a lack of money can generate tremendous stress. That is particularly true with today's inflation raging out of control. Money can become very tight, especially since social security checks or wages haven’t risen much this century. Everyone you speak with, friends, families, or strangers worries about what is happening to their 401Ks and savings accounts. But God has promised to provide for all our needs. Trust Him!
As just mentioned, many worry about their health, it's a “biggie.” The more you worry about this—the more you might actually be harming your own health. Anxiety about health is a very damaging state of mind that often leads to serious physical ailments. Don't just worry about bad diets or lack of exercise—do something positive about those detrimental factors. In truth, most Western diets, with the offered abundance of fast foods, are high in saturated fats and carbohydrates. Over the last few decades, throughout America there has been a sharp rise in weight-related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
If those ailments weren't bad enough, people also worry about their image from the perspective of how others view them. This can become a brutal, circular cycle. You become more anxious and depressed, then you eat more and more—which leads to even greater depression.
Overcoming any health anxiety can be difficult but you can help yourself. After all, who wants to become sickly? True, as we get older, it can be increasingly more difficult to look after and care for our own health. However, there are simple things that we can do to make sure that we stay as well as possible. Making better choices is a great way to start. I recommend you consider shifting gears and get yourself out of “Park!” That means exercising as much as we can without stressing our fragile bodies beyond their lessening limits. While we do that, we need to be watching what we eat. With that said, in all honesty, I do not exercise, much at all. Many years ago I put my combat boots in the closet for the last time after retiring from military service. So I'm now coasting on those multi-thousands of days spent exercising in PT uniforms or lugging around my issue of battlefield gear. So please remember that old adage, don't do as I do—do as I say do. All bodies and requirements differ, therefore go at your own, safe, pace. It’s vital to pay attention to the way we live.
If you can only walk 10 to 20 minutes a day, you’re taking care of your body to some degree by exercising even if only slightly. It’s also important to watch what we eat. Even if the things we eat are not necessarily fattening, they can be harmful to our aging bodies. If you are younger than 35 you may believe too much sun and too much fast food will not harm you—but wait and see how you feel, and the troubles those can cause, in four or five decades. You might end up with malignant skin cancers or clogged arteries for example. Certainly, Foods can be a struggle, at least for me and most folks I know. It’s easier to bake a pizza than prepare a balanced meal like fish and vegetables.
Another worry that takes its toll on a substantial number of people is “What do other people think about me?” Worrying about what other people think about you is almost senseless. But it is a significant signal that you do not feel complete without the approval from others. Since you are already cloaked in glory as a Christian now, and will receive more glorification by Christ in heaven, why should you be concerned about what Jane Doe or Joe Shmoo thinks about you? Or says about you behind your back? No need to be looking outside of yourself to fulfill something you might perceive that Christ and the Holy Spirit left out. No need to conform yourself to what someone else might tell you where you need an improvement. Perfection awaits you!
Remember when I said, “worry or worrying is so unimportant it is mentioned less than a dozen times in the New King James Version of the Bible”? Well, two reoccurring items in the Bible people worry about is “fear and being afraid.” Fear, as a topic, is referenced more than 450 times in the Bible and “afraid is a distant second, being referenced a little over 200 times.
But I ask you, “Why and what do you fear, what are you afraid of?” Certainly, as Christians, we should not be fearful or afraid of death. Our souls are immortal. Leave the fear of death to those who refuse to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
Someone wrote there are so many bible verses relating to not being fearful or afraid you could look up a new one every day of the year. I thought that might be a stretch so I looked up “do not be afraid” and found four dozen references. For “fear not” there were a couple dozen references. However, in the case of these two worrisome words, it is not the quantity that should grab our attention, it is the provided assurance they offer. Let's examine a few anew and there is no better place to start than with God’s Covenant with Abram:
Genesis 15:1, After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Genesis 50:21, Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Joshua 1:9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Proverbs 3:25, Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
Matthew 28:5, But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
Luke 1:30, Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
1 Peter 3:14, But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
If we believe what we read—then we should not be afraid and, therefore, not worry. But “fears” are ever so troublesome, and people have uncountable, often secret, untold fears. But peace should overtake our stress when we study the Holy Scripture's inspirations on “not to fear,”and allow those words of wisdom to saturate our hearts.
Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Daniel 10:19, And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Joel 2:21, Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the Lord has done marvelous things!
Christians are not to be afraid or fearful of anything, even in scary times like these when WWIII could explode at any moment. Jesus is the antidote for timidity, fear, and worry. His words of comfort promises hope in this life and even the beyond the grave. His angels, with loving guardianship, watch over us and embrace our daily lives.
Yet, people not only endure many of the old fears—they invent new ones not directly addressed by the Bible. Some of the more frivolous fresh fears, and I'm not making these up, are listed below.
Omphalophobia is a fear of belly buttons. People with this fearful phobia will avoid seeing or touching belly buttons, even their own. They might even put a bandage over their belly button to avoid looking at it. They will sometimes avoid places where belly buttons might be exposed, like the beach or spa. The source of information on this and other phobias did not expound on which type was the most fearsome belly button, innie or outie.
Do long words bother you? And I don't just mean in Bible studies when it's your turn to read. If so, you may have Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia which is a phobia of long words. Ironically, it is also the longest word in the dictionary. It is believed that the phobia of long words develops from being embarrassed by pronouncing long words incorrectly. This may have developed years ago when reading aloud in front of the class as a child.
I'm not just blowing hot air when I say no one in the Bible spoke of this next phobia. Globophobia is a fear of balloons. Who hasn't jumped when a balloon unexpectedly popped nearby? This rare form of distress can be particularly disturbing for children as balloons are often present at birthday parties. The level of this phobia varies from person to person and can range from avoiding being near balloons to being terrified of any balloon even if it is on a string. In some people, the fear is so great that even seeing a balloon on television triggers intense anxiety.
Can you guess what “Nomophobia” refers to? Here's a clue or two. This relatively recent phobia could not have existed prior to 1973 when a new innovation was tested for the first time. The instrument weighed about 2.4 pounds and would function for only 30 minutes after being plugged into a 120 volt wall outlet for 10-hours. What ever could that monstrous invention be—that has caused much of the modern world to be infected with nomophobia?
Nomophobia is the fear of being without a mobile phone. People with nomophobia experience excessive anxiety about not having their phone with them, their battery being low or their phone being out of service. Regardless of the circumstances, not being able to use their phone causes people with nomophobia to become panicky and experience extreme symptoms of anxiety. This rare phobia affects people with a cell phone addiction, who obsessively check their phones throughout the day and worry they will miss out on the next contact with loved ones or business associates. Do you know of anyone expressing these symptoms? Then warn that person that he or she might be coming nomophobic. Now that would be a real conversation ice-breaker, wouldn't it?
But, returning to more serious matters, aren't many worries and fears similarly unjustifiable? We can pause here a moment to think about or discuss any number of worries or fears you feel are excusable. I'm not going to cast any aspersions on which fears or emotions are correct or incorrect. Each of us must face our own demons, our own worries, and our own fears in our own ways and on our own times.
Here are some secular or semi-spiritual platitudes you may or may not find useful: “Be fearless.” “Have the courage to take a risk every now and then.” “Go where there are no guarantees, even if it means being uncomfortable.” “Step up and step out of your comfort zone.”
“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with Christ's forgiveness. It is your willingness to fight and overcome your demons that will cause angels to sing.” “Deal with it all, live with yourself, as you are now, except strive to grow in Christ.” “Facing your fears robs Satan's demons of their power.” ”
“Fear defeats more people than any other thing in the world.” “Fear doesn’t go away, but dictates on its own terms which battle must be fought anew every day.” “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.”
“If you don’t deal with your demons, they will deal with you and make your life messy, to say the least.” “Our enemies are not always demons, but sometimes just ourselves.”
“You must not worry for worries and anxieties are agents that try to destroy your faith. Worry heaped upon worries become the little, separating deaths that could lead to the obliteration of your soul.
When the storm clouds of worries, fear, and anxious moments darken your horizon, these are reflections of something very important that is missing from your life. Any guesses as to what that might be?
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds (worry free) through Christ Jesus.
Yes the soothing Peace of God might be missing from your life. This is a peace emanating from God that envelops you that defies human understanding. That peace comes to us by making our requests known to God in prayer and placing our troublesome burdens with Him. Once we do that, then we should refuse to entertain any other anxious thoughts on the matters at hand. Just let the peace of God settle over you and remain in you keeping and guarding your heart and mind from further fear or anxiety. Trust in the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us quite clearly, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths”
Psalm 91, in its entirety provides incredible spiritual insight to the topic of this short essay.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it (wickedness) shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
The last line of the first stanza says, “My God, in Him I will trust.” Strong’s Concordance defines “trust” as a Hebrew word relating to having secure confidence. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament refers to trust's meaning as to feel safe or carefree.
The points made are that when we fully and truly trust the Lord—we have inner feelings that are untroubled and tranquility surrounds us. That’s the peace of God that passes all understanding, and it belongs to every child of God by their faith and trust in Christ. Don't worry. Don't fear. Don't be anxious, just slow down, decompress, and enjoy God's peace in your life every day. Take your troubled requests to God in prayer. Offer Him all praise, honor, and glory. Then give thanks to Him thanks for His faithfulness to you in every situation. Relax into His perfect peace.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Please, if you think someone else might benefit from reading this, send it to them by email or email me their address and I will forward this essay to them anonymously. Rest assured, I do not solicit anything from anyone.
The End.
For more about this author and a list of my free books please go to:
www.smashwords.com/interview/DennisDKing
