OceanSide church of Christ

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Worry
by: Dalton Gilreath

There was a popular bass fish that was once mounted in people’s homes. His name was “Big mouth Billy Bass” and he sang the Bobby McFerrin song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. These four words ring true for all. Worrying is one of the most committed sins in the world today. People often worry about anything and everything. Adults worry about their children, their jobs, their finances, their spiritual life, their country, and oftentimes their safety. For Christians, all of this worrying needs to stop. Worry is very unhealthy both physically and spiritually.

First of all, whether considering short or long term effects, worrying is physically harmful. What happens to the body when the mind is cluttered with concern? The body begins to lose necessary amounts of sleep, the stomach gets upset, the mind begins to breakdown emotionally, the blood pressure in the body rises, etc. In addition, worrying has long term side effects as well. Constant worry begins to have powerful effects on the mind and body. Many begin to focus on “what might happen” instead of the reality that nothing bad has even happened and may not ever happen in regard to their concern. Some gain high levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. This can lead to panic attacks, hindered relationships, excessive fear, and overall lack of performance with jobs and other areas. If that isn’t enough, studies show that worry greatly decreases the length of one’s lifespan. Sadly, often all of these side effects of worrying come from things people have no control over whatsoever.

Secondly, many might be surprised to learn that worrying is prohibited by God (Matthew 6:25-34). God makes it clear that Christians are not to worry about their lives. The implication is that worrying reveals a lack of faith in God. Jesus made it clear that man must live life one day at a time and not be so concerned with tomorrow. Everyone deals with stressful things in this unfair world. However, which of us by worrying can add one hour to the span of our lives? (Matt 6:27). Nothing good comes from worrying. So, as difficult as this might be for some, how can we overcome the instinct to worry when situations arise? Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing (do not worry/ have anxiety), 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” (Phil 4:6-7). Here, we see that we are to gain the peace we long for by casting our worries on God and truly believing that He will handle the situation. Nothing is too big or too serious that God cannot handle it (Jer 32:27). Count the blessings of life, pray to God with thanksgiving, and gain peace knowing that He will always be with those who belong to Him (Rom 8:28). We must have faith in the paths God takes us down and trust that His will is always best for our lives, even if it doesn’t make sense with what we think in our human minds is best.