We can all agree that when it comes to membership in the human race, worry is part of the package. We also know that it’s a useless and unhealthy vice.
Corrie ten Boom used to recite a little couplet: “Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead.” She understood that anxiety is ultimately foolish because it concerns that which isn’t. It lives in a future that can’t be foreseen. It deals in what-ifs and could-bes, speculation and possibility.
And as long as we dwell on the worst-case scenario, we guarantee our own misery, for an extensive catalog of calamity is always within reach of the imagination.
Worry in the Bible
The Bible chooses its language carefully when describing worry. The basic Biblical word has the meaning of “to take thought” or “to be careful.” Those are good things, at first glance. But the Greek gives us the word picture of a divided mind. The worrier has a mind torn between the real and the possible, the immediate and the potential. He’s trying to fight the battle of life on two fronts, and he’s bound to lose the war.
The worrier attempts to live in the future, and that presents him with two problems: the future isn’t here, and the future isn’t his. Nothing can be done, and no amount of worrying affects the issue one iota. The future is unknown, uncontrollable, and therefore irrelevant in terms of our peace of mind.
When Jesus preached the greatest sermon of all history (found in Matthew 5–7), He was very clear on this issue of anxiety. In a nine-verse passage in Matthew 6, He uses the expression “Don’t worry” three times. So if you’d like to have the teachings of Jesus on the subject of anxiety, we can state them in full in two words: don’t worry.
Realistic Concern vs. Restless Anxiety
There are those who quote Philippians 4:6 (“Be anxious for nothing”) as an excuse for a careless lifestyle. “Don’t worry, be happy.” But that’s not what we’re talking about at all. If you don’t worry about your children playing near traffic, you’re a terrible parent. If you’re not concerned about walking off the roof of a skyscraper, you’ll learn the meaning of that old poster that said, “Gravity: It’s not just a good idea. It’s the law.”
But realistic concern and restless anxiety are separate matters. So what is the difference? In short, concern focuses on the present; worry is attached to the future. The present is before us, and there are actions we can take. The future is out of our hands.
Jesus wants us to live — a day at a time. There’s a reason God placed us within the moment, bracketed away from both the past and the future. They’re both off-limits to us, and we need to post No Trespassing signs. The past is closed for good, and the future is still under construction. But today has everything you need.
That’s what you and I must do when the world seems upside down. We must dwell on the miracle of what lies before us today, this moment, this second. All else is dim by comparison.
Weapons Against Worry
I’d like to leave you with some weapons you can use against worry — four verses to help you when your mind is prone to anxiety, and six words to rally around. Copy the following verses down and keep them handy. Better yet, commit them to memory.
- “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15, NKJV).
- “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22, NKJV).
- “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV).
And here is the pinnacle passage concerning worry: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)
And what are the six words of wisdom for worriers?
Worry about nothing — pray about everything!
Make those words your battle cry as you take on the giant of worry.
Adapted from Keep the Faith by Dr. David Jeremiah.
Will you finish the race strong? Dr. David Jeremiah offers biblically based keys to keeping your faith steadfast when life hits you hard. Regardless of the circumstances, God will hold you up to help you face whatever comes your way.
Keep the Faith is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Dr. David Jeremiahis the founder of Turning Point, an international ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. He is the author of more than fifty books, includingThe Book of Signs,Where Do We Go fromHere?,andThe Great Disappearance. Dr. Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He and his wife, Donna, have four children and twelve grandchildren.
