Winning Over Worry
Ever since I can remember, my mind worked overtime thinking about all the dreadful events that could happen to my loved ones or me. I worried about major tragedies: plane crashes, rape, cancer. I even worried about minor situations: missing a payment due date, wearing the wrong thing to a social outing, having bad breath. However, most of those what-ifs were never realized.
Until, that is, the day my worst dread became a reality: My father was diagnosed with cancer. Finally my worries were justified. But now I had to decide: Who would be my companion through this crisis? Anxiety—or God?
While praying for my dad, I recalled Jesus' words in Luke 12:25-26: "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" (NLB). This message comes from the man who often didn't know where he'd eat or sleep; who constantly endured public criticism from many important people; who knew he'd die an excruciatingly painful death. I was ashamed. I didn't want anxiety to cripple me. I wanted to trust God and experience peace. "OK, God," I prayed through clenched teeth, "I'm turning Dad's health over to you. I'm trusting you want the best for my family. And I won't worry about something I can't control." That prayer was the toughest I ever prayed.
To follow through on my prayer, I began searching for strategies to rid myself of worry and fill my life with hope.
[1] Pray in faith.
For me, prayer wasn't the problem. The problem was telling God my worries and asking for his help, then holding on to them, like a tug-of-war. I kept reminding God to be as concerned about the situation as I was.
When I progressed from my 20s to 30s with no husband, I grew panicky. Oh, how I prayed and worried I'd be single forever. Finally, God impressed upon me he couldn't answer my prayers if I didn't have faith—the opposite of worry. He didn't promise that he'd answer "yes," just that he'd answer. I took a leap of faith and said, "God, I'm going to trust you know what you're doing. And if that means I never get married, then I'm not going to waste my life worrying about being single." When worry reared its ugly head again, I repeated that prayer. God didn't immediately answer with a "yes." But I discovered the more I prayed that prayer, the more I meant it. God eventually gave me a spouse, but by then I was enjoying my life so much, I'd stopped worrying about my marital status.
[2] Choose health.
Studies show worrying can lead to tension headaches, hypertension, muscle tension, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, irritability, poor memory, insomnia, and even obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Whenever I tense up and feel nauseated, I meditate and breathe deeply. In his book The Anxiety Cure, Christian psychologist Dr. Archibald Hart explains meditation and its benefits as the "literal embodiment of Psalm 46:10, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' … It is all about worship, a devotional act" of imagining "Jesus standing in front of you, beckoning you to hand over all that bothers you." Then I "select an attribute of God and focus on it. His love, compassion, grace."
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2008, May/June, Vol. 30, Issue 3, Page 54
Related Topics:
Anxiety, Attitude, Prayer, Trust, Worry
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Linda
Thank you for the once again realization that God is there for us.... Most of us usually need to be reminded in certain situations, that worrying doesn't help a whole lot and actually affects our health as well...God is our Strength!!
LK
I relate to worry. I have had to give my two boys (25 and 27) to the Lord. Only he can save them. I remind God that he promised ...if we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he shall not depart. I did my best raising the boys in church. Only God can save them -- not me. As a mom you want to hold on to them. I thought I could do a better job. We have to let go and let God.
sam
great article. It again reminded me the pricinciples God is trying to teache me through out the phases of life that ''the just shall live by faith'' . many a times when i reached the end of my resources he was always there to pick me up and strengthening me to move another round. still i had my bouts with worry but I know he is giving another lesson how to depend on him and trust him when life is not going the way i want.
Earlene
For the past nine years different things have happened in mine and my husband's life that normally would have caused us to rant,rave,talk very ugly and do stupid things. But with the help of God,Prayer and our church family we have been able to overcome and get through many things the devil has threw at us and our family. We may not have alot of money but there is enough to take care of what we need to and not much but some to give at church on Sunday. The Devil has no place in our life or home,The Devil Is A Liar.
sharon
Thank you. I needed to hear this.
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