What to do when worried

February 2021 Magazine Leader

Worry eats its way through the day. Like a teenager that never seems to have had enough food (the fridge raiders!), worry has its main meal but then grazes on and off through the day (and night). Its appetite is huge! But there is a way through it.

There may be big things that dominate life. We’ve been living under the cloud of the pandemic far longer than ever expected. The health threat has been ever present and serious with the inevitable challenge to physical performance and the knock-on effect when it has led to a death. That is worry enough. It didn’t take long before it caused many other problems. Turmoil at work for many people has suddenly put their daily lives on a shaky footing. Where income is less predictable, has shrunk or even dried up, then changes have been swift. Add to that the practical problems of childcare, looking after elderly relatives and restrictions on simply meeting up with others…..…. Worry? We do!

We find some powerful direction about how to avoid worry in the New Testament. Jesus teaches us to trust in our heavenly Father for our daily needs of drink, food and clothing; but also, to seek first His kingdom and righteousness rather than to slip into worldly ways (Matthew 6v25-34). The same teaching is developed by the Apostle Paul. He wrote this pithy two liner:

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4v6-7).

There are no bounds to what we can bring to God as we pray: pray about everything. Our whole lives matter to God – as we show our trust in the one who hears and answers prayer to meet our needs He will do so. But He also gives us peace.

We may be in the midst of the perfect storm of things that threaten our lives. God gives us a peace that we won’t find anywhere else, or from anyone else. 

I hope this encourages you to put your trust in God in the circumstances you face. We will worry less as we pray more.

                                  Paul Kingman