Earlier this week, I posted that my superhero character is likely Anxiety Girl. Another option would be Worry Woman. I have certainly spent (or should I say wasted) my fair share of my life worrying about everything including finances, my children, my appearance, my job, the future. I guess – able to worry about just about every subject in a single sitting – is my mantra.
So what is the difference between worry and anxiety? According to Harvard Medical School, anxiety has three main components: emotional, physiological, and cognitive. Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a big event at work that you responsible for.
* Emotional – you might have feelings of fear and dread.
* Physiological – you might experience bodily sensations like your heart racing or your stomach hurting.
*Cognitive – you might start thinking, “I can’t do it” or “What if I screw things up?” This is where worry comes in. In educating myself on the subject of worry, I also learned that women tend to worry more than men. Shocker, right?
I get my issues with worry honest. My mother could win an Olympic medal for worrying! I think I have made progress over the last few years, moving from a worry expert to an intermediate worrier. I am slowly but surely learning to cast my cares on God.
Has any good ever come from worry? I haven’t seen any evidence of it. Worrying wastes precious time and robs us of the ability to enjoy our lives. It’s choosing to dwell on and to think about the worst-case scenario which, more than likely, will never come to pass.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27.
Worry, in essence, is the sin of distrusting the promises and the power of God. Many of us believe God can redeem us, defeat Satan, and give us eternal life, but don’t think He can get us through the week. Kind or ironic, isn’t it? This shows a serious lack of faith. Also, when we worry, we torment ourselves – doing Satan’s job for him!
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus says,
I spend a lot of time worrying about eating, drinking and what I’m going to wear. How much more productive would it be to focus this energy towards doing God’s work and taking care of my soul?
God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of worry and anxiety. To begin to overcome worry, we must humbly admit that we can’t do life in our own strength and turn over our problems to Him asking for His help.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“Cast all of your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
God gives you the wonderful gift of life today so try to live in the light and full joy of the day. Try not to push yourself into the future and give up the day’s joy over an anticipated tomorrow that may likely never happen.
REFLECT
- What will you do to try to overcome the tendency to worry and trust God more?
- What do you worry about?
