Say Good Bye to Alka-Seltzer: Thinking Rightly about Worry & Anxiety Four Aspects to Understanding Worry: I. Worry DEFINED a. Working definition Worry is an anxious concern regarding the future and other unknowns that keeps a person from fulfilling Biblical responsibilities. Anxious concern produces unsettled, uncomfortable, nervous thoughts, feelings, and bodily responses Regarding the future almost all (some would say all) worry involves concern for the future Worry using today s energy and thought to apply it to tomorrow s circumstances. Borrowing tomorrow s fears and pulling them into today. That s the opposite of faith which is borrowing tomorrow s hopes and pulling them into today. Worry is concerned with what is unknown. Fulfilling Biblical responsibilities the end result of worry is that it prevents one from living the way God calls us to live. b. What worry ISN T Worry isn t to be confused with diligent CARE and CONCERN toward your responsibilities (2 Cor 11:28; Phil 2:20; Gal 4:19). Worry isn t to be confused with PLANNING that acknowledges God s sovereignty (James 4:13). c. Greek word The Greek word for worry is merimnao, a combination of two Greek words: merizo to DIVIDE nous MIND So the Greek word for worry literally means a DIVIDED MIND
Question: How does the idea of a divided mind fit with the concept of worry? Vocabulary: In the Bible, the word is usually translated worry, anxious, anxiety, or care. In modern vernacular, oftentimes Christians will attempt to hide their worry by using other terms, such as: o CONCERNED o TROUBLED o DISTURBED o INTERESTED o BOTHERED II. Worry s EFFECTS Worry has comprehensive and far-reaching effects on the persons who are regular worriers. a. Physically Worry saps our ENERGY Worry aggravates EXISTING physical problems Worry causes stomach ULCERS and other digestive problems Worry can drive people to an early DEATH b. Mentally/Spiritually Worry drains your JOY and robs you of PEACE Worry destroys your VISION Worry curtails EVANGELISM and passion for CHRIST Worry makes us incapable of handling life s PROBLEMS Worry keeps us from assuming RESPONSIBILITIES Worry drains VITALITY out of living III. Worry as SIN a. New Testament teaching on worry JESUS forbids worry three times in one passage of Scripture alone (Matt 6:25, 31, 34). PAUL also commands believers not to worry (Phil 4:6). PETER tells us to give our anxieties over to God (1 Pet 5:7). The Bible commands believers not to worry, and so worry is sin. The sin of worry is the FRUIT, of which certain heart desires are the ROOT. Matthew 6 indicates two heart root issues that lead to worry:
b. Connection: Worry as manifestation of IDOLATRY Idolatry means to worship someone or something other than God. Giving YOURSELF to some person, goal, ideal, concern, or object rather than Christ. Putting your DESIRES above God s desires and commands for your life. Allowing CONCERNS over the future and things to be more important than thinking and acting God s way. Worry expresses idolatry of the heart (Matt 6:19-25). We tend to have an inordinate focus on: THINGS (v.19-21) our hearts will be attached to that which we value GOALS (v.22-23) look at life through a certain lens and it will be colored that way PEOPLE (v.24) pleasing people and the fear of man That which you worry about reveals the idols of the heart: Finding a mate Health Money Job status, promotion Children Success People s opinions, wanting to be liked Question: Who or what do I worry about? What does that reveal about my heart desires? Jesus said you cannot SERVE God and someone or something else at the same time (v.24) The worrier needs to REPENT of his false masters and false refuges and recommit to serving Christ alone. c. Worry as UNBELIEF Jesus describes worriers as people of little FAITH (Matt 6:30) Worry is the fruit of remaining DOUBT and UNBELIEF in a Christian. The presence of sinful worry indicates that there is something or someone you are trusting in more than God.
The worrier needs to identify the specific IDOLS and LIES that are ruling him and confess them as sin. Repentance from unbelief for a worrier will be: Believing God to be who God says He is Believing to be true what God says is true The antidote to worry is genuine FAITH IV. God s WORD to worried children Matthew 6 doesn t merely tell us that our worry is WRONG. Jesus also reveals a lot of truths and promises from God that our meant to help us defeat our worry. a. You can never lose the real TREASURE (v.19-24) We worry about what is most important to us. But what should be the most important thing to us cannot ever be destroyed or taken away. Romans 8:31-39 This is why money is such a cruel master and lousy idol. It is hard to hold onto. It fails to deliver and quickly leaves our possession. b. Life isn t just about OUTWARD concerns (v.25) Life is much more than merely food and clothing. These things are necessary, true, but they are far from sufficient to explain what life is all about. Life is ultimately about God. Apart from the reality of God, then all we really should think about is food and clothing. But we live life before a holy, powerful, and loving God who sustains us. c. God will TAKE CARE of you (v.26, 28-30) Birds and flowers make no plans; have no factories or corporate flow charts or business models; they do not seem to be prime candidates for survival in a tough world. Yet they continue to flourish by God s sustaining power. God cares infinitely more for men and women; they were created in His image. He will care for you. Assignment: Look around at nature and record evidence of God s care for his creatures.
d. Worrying won t HELP anyway (v.27) Worry doesn t actually SOLVE anything. It doesn t actually help prevent any problems. As a matter of fact, it creates more. Worry steals energy that could be applied to today s situations and responsibilities to apply them to tomorrow s situations. But tomorrow s situations cannot be handled today! e. God knows what you NEED (v.31-32) The Gentiles earnestly seek their own welfare, because they do not know the God who would care for them. Those who know God should not be so concerned, for God cares for his children. He is not a disconnected, uncaring, aloof god, but rather a loving, merciful, omnipotent Father who cares for his children. f. God wants your PRIORITIES to be right (v.33) God offers you more than mere food and clothing he offers you Himself and His kingdom. Rather than focus on these needs and desires in life, we are to focus on God, his kingdom, his righteousness, and let him take care of all of what we need. When we are worried we demonstrate that our priorities are out of line. Assignment: Read through Philippians and record 5-7 verses that indicate God s love and care. Memorize one of them. g. You can t CHANGE what might come tomorrow (v.34) God gives the grace we need each day; he does not promise grace today for tomorrow s problems. Tomorrow we will receive what is necessary to deal with tomorrow s problems. God wants us to focus on what He is calling us to do today. We cannot change what will come tomorrow anyway.
Six Steps to Conquering Worry: I. Identify how you EXPRESS worry Worry shows up in different people in different ways. Knowing how you express worry will help you begin to ADDRESS it before it gets out of hand. How does your anxiety show itself? Physical symptoms? Anger or irritability? Withdrawal? Feelings of panic? A desire for distraction or comfort? Bad habits? Obsessive thoughts? II. Name the PRESSURES Instead of merely fretting, you need to actually IDENTIFY exactly what it is that you are worried about. It is difficult to address your worry if you do not consider just what it is you are worried about. Scripture speaks to the source of our worries, so find the source of your own. III. Ask yourself Why am I anxious? God doesn t want his children to be anxious, so something has gone amiss when we are. We need to do a bit of HEART-SEARCHING to discover what the source of our anxiety is. Is the source primarily: An area of DESIRE/IDOLATRY? What do I fear losing or never getting? What is my heart treasuring? Example:
An area of UNBELIEF? Where am I failing to exercise faith? What promise of God am I not believing? Example: IV. Go to your FATHER. God invites us to come to Him with our concerns and troubles. He wants us to bring them to Him, and He cares about what concerns us. a. CONFESS your worry Worry is sinful, and so we need to confess our worry to God and receive forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 As we confess our worry, we also are to cast our worries upon Him. 1 Peter 5:7 Phil 4:6 b. Express THANKFULNESS Part of the antidote to anxiety is to be grateful for who God is and what He has done. Phil 4:4-6 1 Thess 5:16-18 Praise and thank God for His SUFFICIENCY Thank God for the opportunity to grow SPIRITUALLY Thank the Lord for His constant PRESENCE and love V. Change your MIND Since worry is sinful, we need to respond with REPENTANCE. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, a combination of two Greek words: meta CHANGE nous MIND
So the Greek word for repent literally means to change your mind The worrier needs to STOP thinking one way and START thinking a different way a. DISCIPLINE your thinking God tells us to think certain ways, and not to think other ways. Therefore we know that we are responsible for how we think, and we are able to control our thinking. Controlling how we think requires discipline. Phil 4:8 Psalm 42-43 b. Dwell on God s PROMISES VI. Start DOING What promise of God do you need to believe and meditate upon? He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5) He will provide for you (Matt 6:28-30) His grace is sufficient for you (2 Cor 12:9) He will work every situation out for good (Rom 8:28) No harm can come to you apart from his will (Matt 10:29-31) He knows what you need (Matt 6:31-32) Nothing can separate you from his love (Rom 8:35-39) He will reward your obedience (Matt 6:3-4, 6, 18; 10:42; Luke 6:35; Col 3:23-24; James 1:12) He will supply all of your needs (Phil 4:19) He will begin the work he started in you (Phil 1:6) Today s suffering is minimal in light of our future glory (Rom 8:18) He will wipe away every tear and make all things new (Rev 21:3-5) Others? It is important to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers as well (James 1:22). a. Focus on TODAY S activities and responsibilities What does God want me to be doing today? What are my responsibilities today as a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, a son or daughter, employee, etc.?
If I have neglected activities or responsibilities due to worry, when, where, and how should I begin? What s my plan? b. Learn from OTHERS Be involved in relationships where you can receive godly counsel, input, and accountability. Seek out those who have walked this road ahead of you, or those who demonstrate that they know something about experiencing peace and joy. READ BOOKS! c. Give YOURSELF away Like fear, one of its symptoms is pulling in, away from people, and becoming consumed with yourself. Serve someone else. Do something loving for someone. Get outside of your own world and enter someone else s. One way you can help someone: APPENDIX Read Psalm 37 together and write down everything you find that addresses someone who is anxious or afraid. Is there something the Lord is telling the worried person to do? Is there a promise the Lord gives that the worried person needs to believe? Recommended Resources: 1. Helping People Overcome Worry (booklet) by Lou Priolo 2. Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety: Becoming a Woman of Faith and Confidence by Elyse Fitzpatrick 3. Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest by Edward Welch