How To Overcome Worry - Part 2

As I have grown older, I wrestle more with my own mortality. There are things I used to do and enjoy, that I am no longer physically able to do. And to top it off, the things I can still do, now take me a lot longer to do. I fully understand now what my elders meant when they said, “the mind is willing, but the body is not able.” I also become more aware of just how little control I have over life and circumstances. As a result, the older I get, the more I tend to worry.

In part 1 we talked about:

• How worry can consume us.
• How worry robs us of our joy and peace.

Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s remedy.

Worry, anxiety and fear attack our mind and body. In fact, worry and fear can become devastating or crippling strongholds in our lives. In addition, worry and fear rob of us of our inherited peace which is promised to us. (John 14:27). Peace is also one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

• Peace is tied to the presence of God in our lives. (Isa. 26:3)

• Peace is tied to the provision of God in our lives. (Phil. 4:19)

• Peace is tied to the protection of God in our lives. (Isa. 54:17)

Despite the promises of God, we still encounter worry and anxiety in our lives. In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul clearly details the problem, prescribes a remedy and a program to address worry. He then reminds us of God’s promise (v.9).

First, Paul tells us to “be careful for nothing.” (Phil. 4:6) The word used for careful means; to be troubled with care; to have a divided mind. A divided mind is a mind that cannot rest, cannot focus, and cannot settle down. It means to be distracted.

Worry is a distraction that cost us too much time and energy. I cannot recount all of the wasted time I have spent:

• Formulating a response for things that never happened.

• Having an entire conversation in my head with someone.

• Trying to correct mistakes that can never be undone.

My time would have been better spent on living the life that is right in front of me. To have a mind that is not divided means to be focused on the here and now. The idea is to not drift between thoughts that are legitimate to thoughts that are destructive. A divided mind leads to instability. (James 1:8).

Paul tells us to include everything in prayer. We are called to pray about all things, especially those that distract us and cause anxiety. It’s okay to think about those things, but He is warning us about being consumed with worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety deny us the promises of God.

FYI, praying about what troubles you does not mean that your troubles or concerns will go away.

In previous blogs, I have talked about the anxiety, I felt when my mother got sick. I could find no peace in my imagination about what life would be like after she passed. I prayed for her healing continuously. But she still transitioned. After her death, was when I experience the peace that God promised.

The promise of His peace, protection, provision and presence is not found in our imagination, fears or anxiety. It is found daily in the life that He has called us to live.

In Part 3 we will take a closer look at prayer.