the state of worry

You may have heard lately in the news and all over the media that people are now being more addicted to stuff like alcohol, gambling, drugs and a host of other worldly things. But did you know that you can be "addicted" to worry??

There are people who are very much "addicted" to worrying over their lives, and when they can't find their own stuff to worry about, they'll start worrying about their friends, relatives, family, neighbours etc.

Worry is defined as feeling uneasy, troubled, anxious or distressed. Worry can also mean being plagued by nagging concerns. And even worrying may sometimes be described as tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts!!

In Matt 6:25-27, Jesus warned against this kind of worry. He instructs, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you no much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

It might do us all some good to do some bird-watching once in a while and to take good notice of how well our little feathered friends are being cared for. They don't have a clue where their next meal is coming from or when they'll get it. And yet, I've never seen a sparrow sitting on a tree branch and having a nervous breakdown due to worry?!

I know that we sometimes struggle with low self-image, but surely you can believe that you're way more valuable than a bird right?! haha. And look at how well our Heavenly Father takes good care of them. What's more, God delights in giving His children good things. But we won't be able to receive and enjoy these things if we are so occupied by worry. If we focus on worrying about tomorrow, we can't live and celebrate today.

Here are just 3 counter-weapons that I use personally when I face worry:

1. SPEAK THE WORD. I highly recommend speaking God's Word out loud, when worry encroaches your territory. You might feel like this isn't your personal spiritual style, or you might feel weird reciting or reading a Scripture passage aloud. But try it! After all, the Bible is described as a sword, and during an attack, a sword won't do you any good in its sheath. For example, you might want to encourage yourself by reciting the most famous verse of all (to me at least haha!) 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you."

2. TOSS WORRIES TO GOD The devil will try his very best to hand you lots of worries and stress to make you feel lousy; fortunately, you are under NO obligation to hang on to them! Remember my friends the verse 1 Peter 5:7 in which we cast all our anxieties on God. When you read that, you might have thought of "casting" in the sense of laying something at God's feet (that's what I used to think ;]) That's a nice image haha! But it's not what the Bible means here. IN this case to cast worries means to HURL THEM LIKE FASTBALLS. Don't hang on to worries. Don't even try to say, "Hmmm maybe the next time I go to church or cell, then I'm going to hand these worries off to God." Don't wait guys! Pick them up and fire them God's way. Believe me; He can catch them, and He know what to do with them. And trust me this method works!

3. REST IN GOD. Two artists were asked to paint pictures of peace. One painted a picture of a serene nature scene, with a still lake as its focal point. While the other, painted a tree branch extended over a raging, rushing waterfall. Perched in the branch was a small bird in its nest, resting in the security of its home. The bird seemed to understand that in its nest, it was safe from the danger below. Now you may be wondering which picture represents peace and rest? The second one! Think about it. The first picture is static, stagnant. The second one truly depicts peace, because there can be no peace without opposition. God won't remove all opposition from your life, but He can give you a sense of rest and peace in the midst of life's raging storms. So (whoever is reading this), rest in God's love and His plan for your life. He will meet your needs!


(Heavenly Father, I thank You for providing peace and rest into my life. I pray that You will help me always as I continue to walk with You that You will help me to overcome the fear of worry and deception, and that You will also be able to help me to throw the worries which I have unto Your feet for You said in Your Word that we cast all our anxieties on You for You care and love us so deeply. I thank You Lord for being with me all the time. I love You and I thank You Father. In Jesus Name, AMEN!


P.S: to anyone who is reading this, please leave a comment behind just below this post or just a note so that I will know who have read it. Till then, God bless!