Worry signifies a troubled mind which leads to mental uneasiness called anxiety. Worry might be harmless when you have the power to solve the situation. But, it becomes harmful when the condition is not under your control.
Researchers at the University of Queensland conducted surveys across 91 countries in the world. More than 480,000 people were involved and the outcome showed that globally, 1 in 13 suffers from anxiety. Worry hooks you through your thinking faculty, when you encounter issues of life that has no instant solutions.
I subjected myself to worries some years ago, but I was shocked that all my days of worry could not provide solutions to my hard times. Thus, worry has no power to solve issues of life, it could only add to the troubles.
What Can Worry Do?
Worry pretends to be important but serves no useful purpose. Worry can cause:
Mental disorder
Physical health problems
Family crisis
Emotional imbalance
Loss of concentration
Unattractive look
Addictions such as; drunkenness, overeating, smoking, gambling and drugs.
Worry was not a strange topic to Jesus, so He took His time to explain anxiety in Matthew chapter 6 verse 25 to 34. Verse 27 says: “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
How to Stop the Pressure of Worry
Thus, if you are engulfed into worries, the steps below are your escape route to freedom.
1. Push your Worry into the Word of God
Fix your mind to the Word of God when you have any difficult issues bothering your mind. For instance, if you are going through hard times of insufficient funds, then meditate on the Word of God.
Matthew chapter 6 verse 28 to 30: “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Have faith in the Word of God, and He will help you solve the difficult problems in your life.
2. Soak your Worries into Prayers
It is a deadly act to fold yourself on a sofa, thinking and giving yourself to anxiety. Jesus encountered a lot of circumstances on earth, but He never sat down to worry. He went to private places to pray every night. Luke chapter 6 and verse 12 says: “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Issues of life beyond your control can only be resolved by divine intervention of God. So, have faith in God, and the power of your prayers to God will melt your worry. Philippians chapter 4 verse 6 and 7 say: “Be anxious for nothing, 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.”
3. Live Your Life to Each Day
The Lord promised to give us long life. But, a good way to overcome worry is to take each day for its own attention. A lot of us worry about the future which we are not sure of its existence. Jesus said that no amount of worry about your future can increase your days (Matthew 6:27). Most of the things you worry about never happen!
Thus, take life so simple. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much wishes of life. Always appreciate your hardworking but don’t forget that only God can do all things. The advice of Jesus in Matthew chapter 6 verse 34 shows that you should not bring tomorrow’s challenges to today’s troubles, else you won’t be able to cope with issues of life.
Worry does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, but it only steals today’s peace. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)
4. Count Your Blessings
It is mysterious to know that no one on earth goes through the toughest problem. For instance, your own main worry (with a sleepless night) might be the smallest part of another person’s worries. Stop worrying about what can go wrong in the next minute and get excited about what can go right by faith.
Thus, don’t allow worry to depress your life. Always give thanks to God for the good things in your life. And your heart of appreciation to God will encourage Him to solve other pressing issues of your life. Did you know that singing songs of praise in the midst of trouble was the action that liberated King David (the Psalmist) in the Bible?
5. Expose Every Endless Worry
Worry steals your joy and waste your precious time and resources. When you’ve done all the best to stop the endless worry in your life, then share your worry with a faithful servant of God. He will be in the best position to dissect your worries through the wisdom of God. The counsel of genuine man of God will also ease your heart from anxiety. It worked for me!
I pray the Good LORD would heal your heart and all your worries would fly away in Jesus name. Let your faith in Jesus Christ be firm in the midst of your challenges and the LORD would surely make a way for you. Stay Calm in Christ.
