Worry in our lives 

We usually worry when we are faced with a problem that seems too big to be solved.

Students studying for exams can go through long periods of worry

If you are a student you may worry about whether you will pass the exams you are about to sit. If you are a parent you may worry about whether your child will be successful at school. If you have a close friend going into hospital for an operation you may worry whether he or she’s health issues will be resolved after the operation. 

However, the Bible tells us that we should trust in God rather than worrying. 

Trusting in God 

Sometimes in our life we will find ourselves in a situation where it appears everything is stacked against us. It seems like it will be almost impossible to get past the problem we are faced with. We go on day after day trying to fix the problem. Yet, if only we would trust in God. 

Don’t worry and try to do everything yourself. Rather than you struggling with the problem and relying on your own judgment, put your trust in God and rely on him to direct you. 

Let God help to take care of the problem. 

Worry and anger 

Worrying about something can lead to anger. 

Anger and worry (fretting) are two destructive emotions. They reveal a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control. When you dwell on your problems, you will become anxious and angry. But if you concentrate on God and his goodness, you will find peace. 

Understanding the harmfulness of worry  

Worry can have ill effects in your health and quality of life. Worry may:

1.                1.  damage your health

2.                2.  cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts

3.                3.  disrupt your productivity

4.                4.  negatively affect the way you treat others

5.                5.  reduce your ability to trust in God. 

Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  

When we worry, we are lacking faith and forgetting that God is in control. Give God the first place in your life and turn to him first for help. Recognise your own helplessness and ask God to provide strength to cope with the situation. 

Life is not mean’t to be easy 

Even though God promises to protect us, he has never said that he will make our lives easy. 

When we experience troubles in our life, rather than worrying about them we should look at them as developing our character and teaching us to rely on God. 

A limit to troubles? 

God will limit the troubles that we face as he does not want us to be tempted to sin. 

 Prayer is the answer 

Instead of worrying about everything turn your worry into prayer. 

Do you want to worry less? Then pray more!  

True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Let God’s peace guard your heart against anxiety.