Something Bad Might Happen Series

The Crushing Pressure of Worry

Part I – Prayer is the answer

If prayer is the answer let’s start there

What do people worry about?

Here are the results of a national poll:

Industry Week Magazine

1. Own health and fitness - 73%

2. Lack of time for family or leisure pursuits - 49%

3. Their children’s problems - 43%

4. TIE - Job related stress - 43%

5. Personal investments - 39%

6. Estate planning - 37%

7. Relationship with children - 34%

8. Aging - 30%

9. Income Level - 22%

10. Their marriages - 21%

The findings from the study lead to a couple of interesting conclusions

1. Worry about estate planning comes before relationship development with spouse and children

2. The more important things such as relationships were low on the scale.

Is this a sign of under value? Perhaps – or maybe it’s simply that the material things get so noisy with worry in our heads that we neglect to focus on the more important details.

Broward County Florida School playgrounds

No swings, no merry-go-rounds, no teeter-totters, and heavens no monkey bars. Someone could get hurt! And this past year signs were posted that said, “No running on the playground”

I mean what’s the point? In the article I read reporting all of this (It was in the Lansing State Journal July 24) there was a description of a little girl who walked on a balance beam placed 4 inches off the ground for a while than began to play in the dirt because the dirt was more interesting and fun than the play equipment.

What is Worry?

Some have said that worry is the interest you pay on trouble that seldom comes. Psychologists have said that 90% of what people worry about never comes to pass.

Norman Vincent Peale said, “The word ‘worry’ is derived from an Old Anglo-Saxon word meaning to strangle or to choke. How well –named the emotion- it has been demonstrated again and again in persons who have lost their effectiveness due to the stultifying effect of anxiety and apprehension.

What is a worry?

Worry is a feeling of uneasiness about an uncertain or threatening future event. It also is a feeling of uneasiness about a past event. Some worried feelings are normal; it becomes a problem when it interferes with normal activities.

What symptoms can be associated with worry?

*Uneasy feeling

* Anxiety.

* Inability to relax.

* Tension headaches.

* Sleeplessness.

* Heart palpitations.

* Feelings of tightness in chest.

* Belching, nausea, diarrhea.

Dr. Charles Mayo

”Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. I have never met a man or known a man to die of overwork, but I have known a lot who died of worry.

So what does the Bible say to do about worry?

Philippians 4:6-8

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.

Start thinking

Take the next few minutes and start thinking about how to do this. What do YOU do that helps YOU stop worrying so much?

Interactive Question

What do you do to that helps you stop worrying?

Part II – Biblical steps to conquering Worry

First Step: Deal with what you can!

Many worries could be eliminated by dealing with the problem!

Two points here – first – many problems can be dealt with if you just go to the people involved!

Matthew 5 and Matthew 18:5-20 both deal conflicts between people and both involve going to the person.

I’ve always been amazed and amused at how we would prefer to talk about another person instead of talking to them. Conflict never gets resolved by talking about someone.

Second – The next way to defeat and deal with worry and anxiety is to have a plan of action.

Meier says, “Do something to lessen your anxiety”. He also states, “Don’t just agonize over your circumstances”

Bottom line - “Do Something!”

• Study the options to correct the problem

• Select a plan of attack after careful prayer and study

• Then put the plan into action- do it

Second Step: Limit what you can’t deal with!

First: Worry about one day at a time.

We all need to learn to live one day at a time to deal with and relieve anxiety.

Matthew 6:25 25“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?