I used to be the queen of worrying. I was constantly worrying about what others thought and also about the future.
I used to think that it was normal and good, even, to worry about things. After all, when I worried, did it not mean that I cared?
I didn’t comprehend that being anxious about the future, or about the well-being of people in my life showed a severe lack of trust in the sovereignty of God.
After having kids, my anxiety and worry escalated. I felt completely responsible for their livelihood. After all, God had gifted them to us for a reason and a season, and it was our responsibility to keep them well.
My excuse for my worrying was that If I wasn’t worried about my kids, it would mean that I did not care about them, right?
But my constant worrying was not doing any good. It created a lot of stress in my mind, and I’m convinced my cortisol levels were unnecessarily high much too often. Worrying also prevents you from taking steps of faith in what God has called you to do.
Corrie Ten Boom wrote, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
My constant worrying did not prevent bad things from happening, it just robbed me of my peace, and joy.
I had a lot of ‘yes, but’ s’ when it came to giving up my fear.
‘Yes I should not worry, but what if he needs help?’
‘Yes I should not worry, but is it not my job?’
‘Yes, but what will happen once I give up that control?’
My worrying was a controlling issue, and a lack of trust in God.
It wasn’t until I started realizing that worry was actually a sin where God showed me what it meant to put my trust in Him and rest in His perfect peace.
Worrying is not fun.
Read on to discover how to stop worrying and overcome these anxiety attacks.
What the Bible Says About Worrying
Worry is fruitless
Worrying produces nothing. Matthew 6:27 says, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
Worrying does not change things. It bears no good fruit, and profits nothing.
Worry is disobedience
‘Do not fear” is written over 300 times in the Bible.
These are not a suggestion, but rather a commandment.
When we worry, we are unintentionally disobeying God. These Bible Verses about fear and worry should help us to remember that God is always taking care of us.
Fret not
Proverbs 24:19 “Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked.”
Fear not
John 12:15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
Let not your hearts be troubled
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Be not dismayed
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Be of good cheer
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Worrying is taking what we have not been yet given
God gives us each new day, and when we worry about the future, we worry about a day that has not yet been given.
We are in a sense taking what is not yet ours.
We are allowed to plan for tomorrow, but not to worry about it.
Matthew 6:24 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
In worrying, we also refuse what we have been given.
We have been given the responsibility of today, and when we spend our energy worrying about the future, we are not capable of taking care of the day as we should.
Too often we neglect the thing that is assigned to us at that moment because we are preoccupied with something of the future.
It is too easy to give someone half of our attention because the other half is preoccupied with worrying about the future.
Worrying is a Waste of Time.
When we worry, we squander the time we have been given.
The responsibility we have for the time God has given us has been something that has pressed on my heart lately. Everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day.
How we choose to use it is a responsibility we have.
Worrying is a waste of time and energy. When you direct your time and energy in worrying, you will not sing praises to God and be joyful instead.
Worrying lays a snare
When worry and anxiety control you, it will cause you to seek to escape that anxiety.
Often this means we turn to ungodly things to escape the fear. That is why fear can bring a snare.
It is God’s will that we put our trust in Him, and rest in His perfect peace.
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”
How To Stop Worrying About The Future
There are many wonderful promises about God’s provision to those who put their trust in Him, the Almighty God.
We are able to stop worrying about the future when we focus on things eternal, and not on earthly treasures.
1.Put Your Trust in Jesus
Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Ray Comfort puts it like this: Put your trust in him the way you would trust a parachute when you jump out of a plane.
You know without the parachute you will perish. In the same way, without Jesus, you will also perish.
Put your trust in Him. He came not to condemn the world, but rather to save those who were lost.
2.Meditate on His Word
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
I’ll admit, this is one I struggle with. Meditating on God’s Word is not just memorizing it, but rather focusing your attention on a certain verse, and letting it transform your mind.
3.Spend Time in God’s presence.
Psalm 33:20 “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
You don’t need to go to the top of a mountain to spend time with God, but you need a quiet, and uninterrupted time with him.
Find a time in your day where you are not needed, and start listening to what God is telling you. For myself, after my kids are in bed is my favourite time to sit still, pray, and listen to His guidance.
4.Spend a Lot of Time in Prayer
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.“
Praying is our way of talking with God. Talk to Him! He wants to hear from you.
Speak honestly to the Lord, telling him all your fears and doubts. He knows about them anyway. Too often when we pray, we pray ritualistic prayers.
Speak to God from the bottom of your heart.
5. Spend time With Godly People
Surround yourself with people that love and trust God. Negativity can bring you down very quickly, and put fear back in your heart.
As Christians, we are called to encourage and edify each other. Spend more time with people that help you in your walk with God, and less time with those that bring you down.
Worrying boils down to a lack of trust in God. When we know who He is, and know that He knows us, we can safely trust in his loving arms.
The Word of God tells us that He will never leave nor forsake us.
When you have Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you are part of his flock. His sheep hear his voice, and no one can pluck them out of his hand.
Does this mean that you will never go through trials?
Absolutely not. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, fear struck his heart. He began to sink. There will be times when we are afraid.
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
His perfect peace, that passes all understanding, will be with you wherever you go, when you put your trust in Him.
Put your trust in Jesus. He is willing and ready to accept you into His fold.
Realize your need for a personal Savior, for alone we will never be qualified to enter into the kingdom of God.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the waters, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Life on the earth is not easy. However, God is capable to help you stop worrying about the future. Put your faith in Jesus, for He alone is the savior of this world.
