I was recently talking with someone who shared that she had been experiencing extreme anxiety. She said, “I know the world is full of good people, yet it feels like everything is falling apart at the seams, and I worry about what the future is going to be like for my children.” Research shows that many people today feel exactly what this woman was expressing.
Do you ever wake up or go to bed feeling anxious? Do you catch yourself worrying—maybe even feeling terrified by negative circumstances or by the direction the world seems to be heading? Years ago, in my early walk with God, I went through seasons where I struggled with anxiety because I allowed myself to worry about many things.
Anxiety is a form of fear, and it is one of Satan’s most effective tools for robbing us of faith and stealing our joy. The Bible makes it clear that worrying accomplishes absolutely nothing positive.
Luke 12:25–26 (NLT) “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can’t do little things like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”
The truth is, worrying only steals from us. It steals sleep. It distracts us from God’s voice and His promises. It clouds sound thinking and often leads to irrational decisions. Worry can make us irritable and bring out the worst in our character—especially toward those we love. It creates stress that can manifest physically, even as sickness. It can lead to discouragement, depression, and a desire to isolate ourselves from others, cutting us off from fellow believers who are meant to encourage us.
God wants us connected to other Christians and to the church so He can use them to remind us of His love and care. The bottom line is simple: worrying is the pits—and it produces nothing good.
Do you remember the story in Exodus, when the Lord delivered the Israelites from the horrific oppression of Pharaoh? They cried out to God, and He raised up Moses to lead them out of slavery. God guided them with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He split the Red Sea. He destroyed Pharaoh’s army. He rained down manna from heaven. He caused water to flow from a rock. Their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out during forty years in the wilderness.
God continually provided for them—yet they worried, complained, and insulted Him with their unbelief. Their fear came from old mindsets formed during years of slavery. The truth is, God was actively and miraculously caring for them the entire time.
We must be careful not to think the way we did before Jesus became our Savior. Our lives are new in Him. He is with us always.
Generations later, the pattern repeated. Israel drifted from God, became faithless and thankless, and tried to solve their problems apart from Him. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord rebuked them for allowing worry and unbelief to replace trust.
Jeremiah 2:5–8 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says: ‘What sin did your ancestors find in Me that led them to stray so far?… When I brought you into a fertile land… you defiled My land… The priests did not ask, “Where is the Lord?”… the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on nonsense.’”
In the early days of my Christian walk, I allowed worry to take root in my life. My mind was overactive, and sleep was difficult. I would read and reread these passages, letting God’s Word correct and comfort me. They reminded me that God wants us to lean on Him—not on ourselves.
I would get on my knees, worship the Lord, and pray. I told Him I would not allow worry to have a place in my mind, imagination, or heart. I rebuked fear in Jesus’ name and thanked God for giving me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind—a worry-free mind. I thanked Him for loving me, caring for me, leading me beside still waters, and providing for my needs. I refused to dishonor Him by worrying.
When I pray this way, the clouds part. The sun shines. Anxiety melts away. My heart is restored, and my faith is strengthened.
That is His will for each of us.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
