Yolo: You Only Live Once, So Don't Worry Yourself To Death

I read a funny joke about 2 blondes. I know how you guys wait all week long for one of my cheesy jokes. Well, there were two blonds travelling in an airplane from LA to New York. About an hour into the flight, the pilot announced that they had lost an engine, but NOT TO WORRY, there are three left.

However, instead of 5 hours it would take 7 hours to get to New York. A little later, he announced that a second engine failed, and they still had two left, but it would take 10 hours to get to New York.

Somewhat later, the pilot again came on the intercom and announced that a third engine had died. No worries! He announced, because the plane could fly on a single engine.

However, it would now take 18 hours to get to new York. At this point, one blonde turned to the other and said, "Gee, I’m sooooo worried, I hope we don't lose that last engine, or we'll be up here forever!"

I don’t know about you, but for me, I’ve spent way to much of my life worrying! Worrying about stuff that never happened. I’ve worried about what people think, what people have said, what I’ve said, job interviews, deadlines, budgets, bills and expenses, rising gas prices, war and even the end of the world! I won’t go into detail, but lets just say I was extremely prepared for Y2K! I had more Tuna than Costco! I had more ammunition that Iraq! If my unprepared neighbor would have come after my tuna – I was prepared to smoke that sucker! 

I’ve wasted my time worrying about all kinds of stuff! First impressions, political correctness, identity theft, contagious infections…all kinds of stuff. But guess what…I’m still alive and well - and my bills are paid.

I also have plenty of food – probably because 13 years later – I’m still eating tuna!

Worry is crazy.

Worry kidnaps your brain from normal thinking. Worry hijacks your mind.

Worry Comes From an Old English Word Meaning To STRANGLE or to CHOKE.

If you’re taking notes – write that down in your outline. Worry means to strangle.

It strangles your thoughts and consumes your mind…it smothers your mind with anxiety, panic, doom, and stress. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

What are you worried about today? What’s strangling you today? Worry strangles the peace and purpose right out of our lives.

You only live once – don’t worry yourself to death.

3 REASONS I SHOULDN’T WORRY:

1. IT’S NOT GOOD FOR YOU. (DUH!)

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:25:

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” Proverbs 12:25 NIV

Worrying is not good for you. It doesn’t get any more practical than this. Why shouldn’t I worry? It’s bad for me. When you worry – it affects you.

 Worry Affects You in 4 Ways:

a) Mentally. When you worry, you’re mind doesn’t mind. You’re mind isn’t in the right place. Worry can make you anxious. Put fear in your mind. Worry can paralyze you. Literally, worrying can stop you in your tracks.

My grandmother is in her 80s. I love her very much. I am extremely close to my grandmother. She hasn’t driven a car since she was in her 30s. Why? Because she was in a car wreck and it scared her so bad…she stopped driving…worry of getting in another car wreck has literally prevented her from driving ever again. Grandpa drives.

Worry also affects you:

b) Emotionally

Emotionally...you get down. You get discouraged. Your mood radically changes and hijacks who you really are. All because you’re worried. Your emotions are outta whack and all over the place just because of worrying about something. Chronic worry can cause depression!

Check this out! Did you know that anti-depressant prescriptions account for $11 billion in annual revenues to pharmaceutical companies. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications rank 5th of all drugs prescribed in the US.

Worry can also affect you:

c) Spiritually - God wants us to be spiritually healthy. To be whole. I didn’t put this in your outline - but 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God doesn’t not give you the spirit of fear – but of love, power and a sound mound. A sound mind.

(d) Physically - Worrying can make you physically sick. Give you ulcers…even kill you. They say worry is the silent killer. Worrying isn’t good for you. Worrying messes up your eating….messes up your sleeping…job performance…your focus and attention.

Worry can cause back pain, chest pain, fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, weight gain, weight loss! Some of you..when you stress…you eat! Some of you stress and don’t eat! Worry affects our eating. All kinds of physical problems!

So the first reason you shouldn’t worry is because it’s not good for you.