Anxiety and Worry

Very few people travel through life without moments of worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety are part of the human experience. If you are not a worrier, count yourself fortunate. Someone said to me recently, “If I don’t worry about these things, who’s gonna?” During Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) He challenged the disciples and the crowd about worry. “So I tell you not to worry about everyday life …” and “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” and “Why worry about your clothing?” and “Why do you worry about these things?” and “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” Jesus’ admonitions and questions were for those that followed him physically and they are for us who follow him spiritually. The Apostle Peter knew about worry and he was familiar with Jesus’ teachings. He also knew worry was a struggle for the followers he led. In a letter, he instructed worriers to not just invite God into the circumstances that generate worry in person’s life, but to surrender or “give up” the act of worrying itself. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) King David wrote similar instructions in Psalm 55. “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” Psalm 55:22 (NLT) David’s word burden illustrates the weight of worry. Sometimes we say, “He has the weight of the world on his shoulders.” That statement describes the weight of worry. We are told to “Give your burden,” and “Give all your worries and cares,” to God. How do we do that? You might say something like this in prayer to Jesus: “Jesus, I give you the burden, worries and cares about my son or daughter or parent or job and finances. I give you them and ask that you intervene. On top of the situation, I give you the burden and worry and care. I can’t continue to carry this weight of worry. I surrender my worry to you. You worry about it.” Then every time you pick the burden back up and start worrying, say it again. Say it over and over and over. Pray it over and over and over.