Marc Estes

It is a challenge to not allow worry to invade our lives in the pressure cooker world in which we live. It seems that there is little certainty in every sector of society which can cause us to be anxious about tomorrow.  As a leader, I attempt to get a proper perspective of the who is really in charge every morning before facing the circumstances of the day. Laying everything in God’s hands has always seemed to be a better approach to my personal challenges; He has never lost a battle yet.

Furthermore, when you really look at what we worry about, we begin to see that our worry just might be overstated. Here is a breakdown that shows the outcome of the things we worry about:

• Things which never happen: 40 percent.
• Things past which can’t be changed or corrected: 30 percent.
• Needless worry about our health: 12 percent.
• Petty miscellaneous worries: 10 percent.
• Real and legitimate worries: 8 percent.

There is a legend which says that there was a mouse who was very afraid of cats. She wished she could become a cat, her wish came true and she turned into a cat. Then she saw a dog and became afraid again and wished she were a dog. Her wish was granted and she turned into a dog. Then she saw a lion and she was terrified by his power and strength and wished she could become a lion so that she would not have to be terrified of the lion. Her wish was granted and she became a lion. Then she saw a man with a gun about to shoot her with his gun. You can imagine what happened next. She wished she could become a human and she did. But when she was sitting in her house she saw a mouse and she was scared of the mouse. The little mouse frightened her. She then realized the problem was with herself.

Maybe that’s why Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  (See Matthew 6:34.) When we can learn to lean on him and not on our own undestanding, He will direct our paths.

Here are some simple, yet important steps you might consider to overcome worry:

1. Recognize God is in control – He has everything under control. He knows your needs before they existed, and he will never leave of forsake you and promised to supply your every need.

 

2. Recognize your worry will never change your circumstance – The only thing worry will give you is an ulcer. Change the way you think.

 

3. Realize prayer is the best weapon for overcoming fear – An old Jamaican proverb does a good job of summarizing the biblical view of worry and prayer. It states, “If you’re going to pray, don’t worry; if you’re going to worry, don’t pray.” Make it your aim to pray and ask God for breakthrough.

 

4. Confess your worry to a friend who can challenge you – One of the greatest ways to break the attack on your mind and emotions is to confess it and allow others to rally around you to encourage you.

 

5. Take steps in the direction you desire to go – Don’t let worry paralyze you. Get a plan for change and move torward it.

 

6. Realize that seasons come and go – You made it through the last challenges, and you will make it through this one. The best is yet to come.

 

7. Find God’s promises in His Word – God’s promises are true and will build faith in your life. Find scriptures that speak faith into your circumstance, write them on a card and recited them every time you feel yourself starting to worry.

 

8. Give Thanks to God – Regardless of your circumstance, find things in  your life that you can be thankful for. Let God know how appreciative you are for what He has done. Taking your eyes off of the negative and focusing on the positive will help you to have a better perspective of the day.

 

Let’s not waist another ten calories on a worry thought, but utilize your energies to think through the great things that are in store for you. The end result is that you will live a happier and more productive life.