Are You a Worrywart?

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”—Matthew 6:34(NIV).

By Carol Round

“If worry were an effective weight-loss program, women would be invisible.” When I read this quote recently, I had to laugh. Does that mean women worry more than men do?

Regardless of your gender, almost everyone worries about something whether it is finances, health, work, or family issues. However, if you worry 24/7, you just might be a worrywart.

According to dictionary.com, a worrywart is a person who tends to worry habitually and often needlessly. Recent studies indicate that 85 percent of all that we worry about never happens. These include worries over our past, which we can never change, worries over which we have no control, irrational concerns or fears, and future worries.

Over 100 diseases have been directly attributed to worry. The strength of your immune system is related to many factors, including worry. Worry not only robs you of your physical energy, it can steal your peace of mind. Worry can raise your blood pressure, harden your arteries, and put wrinkles on your face, and dark circles under your eyes.

Worry will not make your problems go away, help you deal with your problems, or make you feel better. It only robs you of today’s joy.

We can easily become discouraged by daily headlines of doom and gloom. But can we change those things? I like this anonymous quote: “Worry is like a rocking chair; it keeps you busy, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”

So what is the answer to worry? If you believe scripture, then the only answer is prayer. When we are facing difficulties, we should focus on God, and not the problem because He has our best interests at heart. We should also focus on His Word and what He has promised us in scripture; third, we should not focus on the obstruction but look at it as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His love.

I recall reading a devotional titled “God’s Bag.” The writer instructed readers to write their worries down and place them in a brown paper bag. Following the instructions was this letter:

My dear child,

Today I will be handling all your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. Write your worries down and kindly place them in the God bag. It will be addressed in my time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the bag, do NOT hold on to it or remove it. Holding on will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation you think you can handle, please consult me in prayer first. Because I do not sleep, there is no need for you to lose sleep. Rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.

Love,

Your Heavenly Father

Because the Lord our God is with us always, we need not worry about tomorrow.