Worry is another word for anxiety. Do you worry? We can worry about the past, the present and the future. What do you worry about? All of them? I did at one time, but I’ve come a long way in that department, and pray you will too.
For a long time I blamed my mother for my worry. You see she was a great worrier, and I figured it was in my genes. My mother’s sister was also a great worrier, and you know what, she died an early death because of it. She literally worried herself to death. She had every disease you can imagine. (At least she thought she did.) She went to doctor after doctor and I’m aware of at least a couple of doctors that refused to see her because she was such a worry wort. She would not take their advice, and took all kinds of medication, which of course, she knew more than the doctors about how much and how to take it. I feel bad she died relatively young, but she did it to herself. She was very hard to be around, as she was always crying over her kids problems, and worrying about everything. She was so very self-centered and was a nervous wreak most of the time.
My mom worried a lot too, and I think for me it was a learned behavior. When you live with someone like that for 20 years you just kind of pick it up. So, I started out that way. Most likely that is what lead me down the trail to panic attacks. The actual attacks started in my early 20’s. But, all my life I remember how nervous I felt all the time and how I would worry over everything. I had to take care of my little sister a lot growing up while my parents worked, and that was a lot of responsibility for a kid to carry.
It’s sad to think that people have to live that way. In fact, the older I get the sadder it becomes. I see people everyday who are ruining their health just because they worry. It is such a waste of the time that the Lord has given us.
Here is something I learned that is very important and I hope you will take to heart. People in the world (unbelievers) have to worry. Why? Because they have only themselves to rely on. Everything is all up to them. They have to fight their way through life, figure all the angles and make sure things are going their way. They have to worry about their jobs, food, clothing, health, and everything else. They are just “out there” on their own. Have you ever thought of that? I hadn’t until recently.
Christians, on the other hand, DON’T HAVE TO WORRY! We really don’t! We are living in an entirely different spiritual realm than unbelievers. We have been adopted into God’s family. He is our Father! He is our Provider!He is our Savior! He is our Comforter! He is our Guide! He is our Counselor! He is our Healer! He is in control over everything in our lives. We do not have to figure out every detail in life, and fret and worry about them.
So, why then, do we worry? We shouldn’t. It is because we were raised in this world and worry has become a habit we have learned along the way. We need to learn new habits and put off the old habit of worry and anxiety. We think we have to be in control of everything that effects our lives. But, is that true? No! Not when we are a Christian. God has bought us with a price and He controls us. He is our Lord and Master. We are His children and need to look to Him for every need.
When we become a Christian we do not realize that God will take care of us in every way. We still hang on to the worldly way of thinking. That is our mistake! We need to stop thinking like unbelievers! They have to worry. We don’t! We have been set free from worry when we were saved because Christ died and rose again and in doing so enabled us to become new creations. We are actually new persons inside.
2Co 5:17 NASB Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
But, we still live in the old fleshly body and are constantly bombarded with it’s desires and feelings. Those old feelings lure us into the trap of worry. We have a certain physical feeling, like rapid heartbeat, and right away our mind takes off on a worry trip. We start with the “what if” thoughts. “What if I’m having a heart attack?” What if I’m going to have a panic attack?” “What if I pass out?” And, on and on it goes. We are worrying and causing ourselves much anxiety. Finally, if we don’t know how to stop this process we will end up having a full-blown panic attack.
Is there an answer to this? A war rages as the old flesh fights our new spirit. But, God says, He is greater.
1Jn 4:4 NASB You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
God is more powerful. He has given believers the Holy Spirit to live in us and gives us power to overcome.
2Ti 1:14 NASB Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to
Eph 3:16 NASB that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
2Pe 1:3 NASB seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
God has given us everything we need to live our Christian lives in a God honoring way.
Gal 5:16 NASB But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Rom 8:13 NASB for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
God calls us to stop living according to the world. We are to die to that when we become Christians. The Holy Spirit which indwells us gives us the power to put to death the deeds of the flesh. In other words, He gives us the power to stop worrying. We can do it!
Below is part of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians believers:
Eph 1:19-20 NASB and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (20) which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Just what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe? Paul is emphasizing that the extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead is the same power at work in and through believers. Isn’t that wonderful? We have that same power in us! We can overcome anything! Believe it!
to be continued….
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