When You're Weary of Worry

by Jim Clark

    The ancient Saxons compared this emotion to a vicious animal clutching at a man's throat. What fitting imagery for an emotional struggle that all of us tend to battle.

    It's one of the most common struggles of modern man. The problem of worry. As Christians, we know we're not supposed to be anxious. 350 passages in the Bible tell us to "fear not." Our Lord commands us to not worry but instead seek His kingdom first. Yet in all honesty, don't we all at times give in to worry? We can relate to the bedfast elderly woman whose minister asked how she was feeling. She replied, "I feel quite all right today...but I'll make up for it tomorrow."

    Life hits us with so many curve balls. We know how many things can go wrong. So it's understandable that we struggle with worry. But how can we resist this volatile emotion? The place to begin is God and His great love for you. The psalmist says of the Lord, "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

    Today I want you try this simple exercise. Instead of worrying, memorize and meditate on 1 Peter 5:7: "Throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern."

Posted: 01/23/2001
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200101/20010123_worry.html

(c) 2001, Jim Clark <jimclark@abilene.com>. Used by permission of Hope for Life " -->

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