Jesus takes away our worry
Worry is feeling uneasy or troubled – can get unreasonable even irrational pretty quickly. It’s like a rocking chair – it’s always in motion but never goes anywhere. As Corrie ten Boom put it: ‘Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow; but it empties today of strength.’
There are lots of causes of worry – constant noise, iPads, tv, radio, internet, email and traffic – no one else can drive, fractured family life, finances, Daily Mail and even success (when you are failing, you get a pat on the back and a cup of tea). Underneath it though we are not trusting God. Worry is the opposite of faith, and it steals our peace, physically wears us out, and can even make us sick. When we worry, we torment ourselves—we’re doing the devil’s job for him!
Some symptoms of worry are mood swings, anger, depression, exhaustion, wanting to run away or die, comfort eating, irritability, sleepless nights and the need to drinking red bull “I was anxious, now I am anxious and excited!”
What’s the answer? Philipians 4:4-9 makes the following points
1 Anchor your joy in Jesus – our circumstances may change but Jesus doesn’t. There’s always reason to complain and… to rejoice.
2 Respond gently – worry doesn’t give us the excuse to behave badly to others.
3 God is near – He is never far, just call on Him.
4 Pray list – the answer to worry is to cast your anxieties on God and leave them there.
5 Meditate – if you worry you already know how to meditate! The Apostle Paul tells us to think on good things to replace what we were worrying about.
6 Accept the peace of God – once you have done the above, allow the supernatural peace of God that transcends understanding to guard your heart and mind.
Don’t worry, be happy! Or at least be joyful, which is a much deeper kind of happiness.
Andy Moyle
The Gateway Church