An Antidote For Worry

An Antidote for Worry

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Worry—it’s what we do. No matter how brave a face we put on in certain situations, worry still nags at our hearts. I wasn’t sure what college to attend and then, when that was finished, where I would get a chance to play quarterback. Worry. Would Lauren marry me? Worry. Raising our children. Worry. It seems like a day doesn’t go by without it.

Worry, or trust God and reside in the peace He provides?

This issue of worry is mentioned numerous places in the Bible, so obviously it is important to God. And for good reason. Worry not only saps us of passion and energy, but it also drains us dry of our hope and trust in the God who created us.

In Matthew 6:25-26, Jesus says, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.”

What’s a good antidote for worry? The apostle Paul reminds us to stop and thank God for all He has done for us. It’s the “count your blessings” perspective. If we remember what God has already done for us, we can hold on to the assurance that He will continue to provide and make a way through the uncertainty of tomorrow. It’s lying back in the strong arms of God and basking in the peace that time with Him provides.

Worry. We all do it. But we need to stop.

God will relieve you of worry if you ask Him. It doesn’t always mean that instead of worry He will give you success or the outcome you think is best. What He does promise to give seems unfathomable to the world: peace.

Uncommon Key > How has God shown His faithfulness to you? Reflect on that for a moment, maybe even jotting down some specifics. That exercise each day is a sure cure for worry.