Worry and the Word
Updated: Oct 25, 2021
I confess that for the past few months while I have been leading a Bible study on worries; I have been fighting my own worries. But the good news is, I’m feeling better each day, and praise be to God so are the ladies in the Bible study! I know that my little group of ladies is not alone in our worries, everyone has them. I have said if you are living you have worries. And because worry is a part of life; we need to learn how to handle them, so they don’t keep handling us.
Let’s start out by thinking about the things that make us worry (we are thinking of them anyway, so why not list them) things like our health issues and those of the people we love, our financial future or the lack of it, even what would be the best way to use the money we have? We also worry over the daily issues of our family and friends and let’s not forget the state of the world. These things go around and around, till we just can’t stop the worry train and get off. The author of our Bible study guide said for her it was like having a T.V. with only one channel “The Worry Channel” for me it’s more like the worry network that has 24-hour coverage of my fears, failures, and faux pas all playing on multiple channels in an endless loop.
What a time-waster worry is, we try to tell ourselves that we are working on our problems, actually being productive, but really all we are doing is wasting our lives. Each day is a gift, a treasure made for you, for you to spend praising God and sharing His love with the lost. Instead of worrying Philippians 4:6-7 says to us“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Instead of worry, praise!
Instead of worry, pray!
Instead of worry, peace!
When thoughts about your health come into your mind pray the words of Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD"
When you start to worry over the health of family and friends pray 3 John 1:2 "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." Or the words of Proverbs 4:20-22 "My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body."
If money troubles you, pray Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Remember the whole earth belongs to the Lord, and He knows what you need.
He knows you are concerned about the troubles of the world and what that could mean for those you love. Pray to Him, listen to His words of comfort in Isaiah 41:10 where He tells us “… do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Never forget the words of 1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Put these scriptures on the endless loop of your life. Practice daily prayer for yourself and others, take time to praise the God of blessings, and enjoy the peace of Jesus working in your life. Replay them and find more words of encouragement on your own in God’s word and see how much better you will begin to feel, and when worry creeps to your door trying to steal your peace, recall and rest in the comfort of the words of Psalms 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”