Why Worry? God's Got your back!
Welcome, friends, to another week. I am focusing on worry this week. I know I am not the only one who tends to worry about many situations. As the days become darker and darker, we know we have an advocate who cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7 reads, " Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you."
Many of us would agree, by nature, that we are natural worriers. Our parents taught us indirectly to worry about many situations during childhood. For example, mom or dad made us do chores. We worried we did not complete the tasks to their standards. As we progressed through school, grades and homework became huge issues. Teachers expected that we turn in our homework on time, or the lack of responsibility resulted in lower grades. Therefore, from childhood to adulthood, expectations became part of our lives, producing worry. Anxiety may trigger sadness, hopelessness, tiredness, anger, or binge eating. It can also affect a person's body functions.
Today's society produces many demands on all of us. Very few people do not worry. It has become a fabric of our world. Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates anxiety affects 40 million adults over 18. I am sure there are more stats, each citing different results. We have become a nation; excuse me, a world of worriers. Many of us worry about situations out of our control. Worry does not limit itself to one ethnic group or class of people. It is worldwide, across many cultures and backgrounds.
Worry is not new, nor did it spring up overnight. Many of those in the Bible also worried about many things. Therefore, I included Proverbs 12:25 what Solomon calls "heaviness of heart." Life seems to be a burden for millions today. As of 2019, polls estimate that 21 million people use anxiety medication. That said, worry continues to increase as life becomes more difficult. It was also challenging throughout the Bible, but it seems more complicated now. Solomon said, …there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 He was right. People in the Bible also worried about life and things as well. The Old Testament includes Jonah, Job, Moses, Elijah, David, and Jeremiah. In the New Testament, Martha comes to mind because she worried about everything like many women today, Luke 10:41.
Let's dig a little deeper. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. God's request worried Jonah. It made him mad. Instead of facing his worry and fear, he ran away from his responsibilities by boarding a ship to Tarshish. God caused a big wind to blow, which broke apart the ship. A fish swallowed him afterward. In God's goodness and mercy, he gave him a second chance. Jonah 4:3 and 4:9.
David was a man after God's heart. However, he was also a parent watching his baby die. He realized his sin caused this situation; therefore, he struggled with worry, loneliness, and guilt. However, David laments in Psalm 38:4, "or my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. "
Job was one of the best examples of anxiety. Job walked upright before God. The Bible says he was blameless, and he feared God. (Job 1:1) He was rich even by our standards today. God blessed him with ten children. (Job 1:2) His animals numbered in the thousands. (Job 1:3) However, everything in Job's life turned upside down. One day, Satan walked along with Job's sons when they presented themselves to the Lord. (Job 1:6) Satan asked God for permission to take away everything Job had acquired. (Job 1:7-12) The remainder of Job describes events in his life. In the end, (Chapter 42), God gives everything back to Job. What a fantastic testament about worry, and the power of God!
Many times, we (I am one) forget that God has the power to heal and relieve our anxieties and other life problems. Satan, the great deceiver, wants us to believe lies, which increases our anxieties. However, he is not more powerful than the one who created him. We have an advocate who knows what we need mentally, physically, and spiritually.
I try always to include 1 Corinthians 3 and 4 or part of my blogs. These verses are the capstone of our salvation. I have also added Romans 10:10 to these verses. There are many more I could add; however, this blog would become excessively long. These verses represent our belief in Christ and his finished work on the cross. It is up to each individual to believe. Therefore, my question is: will we trust God for salvation and healing like Job, or will we flounder?
I hope this blog is a blessing to all who search for Christ. His love is unmatched and will always continue. He offers salvation- no questions asked. I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at mailto:dorothy@savedheartfaith.com or mailto:dburrell38@yahoo.com I hope you have a great week. Please do not forget to visit YouTube for the shortened companion video to this blog. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week.
