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CHAPTER 11
ACTING TO OVERCOME WORRY
Introduction
Casting the whole of your care--all your anxie-
ties, all your worries, all your concerns, once
and for all--on Him; for He cares for you
affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.
(1 Peter 5:7, The Amplified Bible).
Some churches will not allow someone who smokes or
drinks to be a member. However, nearly all churches will
allow one who worries to be a member. A Christian would not
consider injecting a drug into his veins and yet worry can
accomplish the same results.
Short-Term Stress (Fear)
God made a human being so that in case of real or
imagined danger, the ADRENAL MEDULLA (the inside part of
the adrenal gland) produces adrenaline, a hormone, which is
injected into the blood stream. Adrenaline produces an
"acute alarm" reaction in the body. This acute reaction
is generally short-term. The heart beats faster and blood
pressure is raised. Blood is shunted from the stomach and
skin to the muscles to provide physical strength for "fight
or flight." High-energy fats are dumped into the blood-
stream, blood sugar level rises, breathing quickens, eyes
dilate and chemicals appear in the blood to clot blood
rapidly in case of injury. This heightened condition may
save one's life, but it is hard on the body. [Robert S.
Eliot, M.D. and Dennis L. Breo, IS IT WORTH DYING FOR?
(New York: Bantam Books, 1989), pp. 28-32.]
Long-Term Stress (Worry)
When one perceives a real or imagined loss of control,
the ADRENAL CORTEX (the outside part of the adrenal gland)
produces cortisol, another hormone, which is injected in the
blood stream. Cortisol produces a "vigilance reaction" in
the body. This is a chronic reaction--a long term state.
Blood pressure rises slowly, body tissues retain sodium
and other vital chemicals. High-energy fats and blood-
clotting chemicals are released into the blood stream. Sex
hormones are repressed. Gastric acid production is increas-
ed to maximize digestion. The immune system is repressed,
making one more susceptible to disease.
Worry-Induced Illnesses
Both conditions can trigger a heart attack. Excess
stomach acid can cause ulcers. ATHEROSCLEROSIS (hardening
of the arteries) and continued high blood pressure can
result due to continued stress. (Eliot and Breo, IS IT
WORTH DYING FOR? pp. 28-32). In short, fear, anxiety, over-
concern and worry causes the brain to command the adrenal
gland to inject strong chemicals into the blood stream.
These chemicals act as a poison over a period of time.
Worry can cause physical and mental illness. Dr. S. I.
McMillen advises,
Emotional stress can cause high blood pressure,
toxic goiter, migraine headaches, arthritis,
apoplexy [cardiovascular accident or stroke],
heart trouble, gastrointestinal ulcers, and other
serious diseases too numerous to mention. [S. I.
McMillen, NONE OF THESE DISEASES (Westwood, NJ:
Fleming H. Revell Co., 1963), p. 5].
Dr. Carl Jung was the first to teach that the
cause of schizophrenia was a toxin injurious to
the brain--said toxin being formed by emotional
disturbance, especially anxiety. (McMillen, NONE
OF THESE DISEASES, p. 121).
One who is fearful and full of worry cannot enjoy the
abundant life that Christ came to give him. Worry can also
paralyze one, or at the least rob one of his health and make
him less productive in the kingdom of God.
Getting the believer to worry appears to be a primary
tactic of the enemy. God designed humans to trust and not
to worry; to love and not to hate; to be at peace and not to
be fearful.
The Basis of Worry
One cause of worry is laziness. God expects everyone
to work in order to provide his own needs:
For even when we were with you, we gave you this
rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
(2 Thessalonians 3:10, NIV).
Everyone should do his part. If one does not work, worry or
anxiety will naturally arise. This type of worry is cured
by work. (There are exceptions--some cannot work. These
should be cared for by others).
Another reason one's needs may go unmet is covetous-
ness. (See Chapter Ten of my book, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.)
Jesus taught us,
But seek first his [our Heavenly Father's] kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV).
We are to trust God and always place him first in our lives.
Again, one's needs may go unmet due to a lack of
faith. (Anxiety or worry causes a lack of faith--this may
produce a cycle that feeds on itself). The basis of this
lack of faith could be sin--the deliberate breaking of God's
commandments.
On the other hand, anxiety or worry could be caused by
a lack of understanding of God's Word. The solution to this
problem is to learn God's Word on this matter.
How to Overcome Worry
One must do his part--God always will do his. The Bible
defines the human role and God's role.
A primary way to defeat worry is to work. It pays to
"work smart":
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more
strength is needed but skill will bring success.
(Ecclesiastes 10:10, NIV).
Why cut wood with a dull axe when one can take a few minutes
to sharpen it? Why cut wood with an axe, if a chainsaw will
do? Why not insulate the house well instead of cutting so
much wood? Why not take time to train in an occupation,
before trying to work in that occupation? It may involve
training in a skill in order to make a better living.
Or, more importantly, it may involve searching the
scriptures and internalizing appropriate principles. Why
stumble through life being harassed by the Devil, when a
knowledge of the scriptures brings freedom?
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32, NIV).
Freedom includes freedom from worry. Sin can cause
worry. The cure in this case is confessing and forsaking
sin.
Another way to defeat worry is to exercise faith.
Jesus taught in Matthew 6 that we are not to worry about
things over which we have no control. If worry arises from
lack of material goods after one has done his part, then
one must look to God and his promises rather than at circum-
stances. Delay is not denial--look to God and not the
calendar! (One must keep in mind that every good thing one
receives from God comes on the basis of Jesus' death on the
cross and not one's good deeds).
Jesus commands us not to worry:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat or drink; or about
your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
important than food, and the body more important
than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they
do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet
your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much
more valuable than they? WHO OF YOU BY WORRYING
CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS LIFE [Italics Mine]?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how
the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor
or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in
all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into
the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you
of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What
shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What
shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that
you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given
to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew
6:25-34, NIV).
"But," someone will say, "I can't help worrying!"
This is what the drug addict says. The writer's mother was
a worrier and he "inherited" this bad habit. May the writer
suggest that worry is more a LEARNED ACTIVITY than an inher-
ited disposition? If Jesus tells the believer not to worry,
then it is possible not to worry! "With the commandment
comes the enablement." (Dr. Mendell Taylor, class lecture
at Nazarene Theological Seminary, ca. 1965).
Paul also commands the believer not to worry:
Don't worry about anything, but in all your
prayers ask God for what you need, always asking
him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which
is far beyond human understanding, will keep your
hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7, TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION).
Once one has requested God's will in a specific matter,
in faith, God's peace will settle in the believer's heart.
David instructs,
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain
you; he will never let the righteous fall.
(Psalm 55:22, NIV).
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you
the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the
LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will
make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the
justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm
37:5, NIV).
David's son, Solomon adds,
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans
will succeed. (Proverb 16:3).
God has at once (1) given us a gracious invitation to
cast our worries on him and (2) COMMANDED us to cast our
worries on him:
Casting the whole of your care--all your anxie-
ties, all your worries, all your concerns, once
and for all--on Him; for He cares for you affec-
tionately, and cares about you watchfully.
(1 Peter 5:7, The Amplified Bible).
ASSIGNMENT: HERE IS A PRAYER MODELED ON 1 PETER 5:7.
PRAY IT NOW, FROM YOUR HEART:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gracious invitation to
cast my worries upon you. So now, as an act of
obedience and faith, I do give you all of my
worries, all of my anxieties and all of my con-
cerns, once and for all.
Thank you for taking them.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Remember the time and date that you prayed this prayer
of committing your worries to God. You just may be tempted
to worry again. You may even catch yourself worrying again.
If you do sin by worrying, don't worry about it! Simply ask
God for forgiveness and go on. Refuse to entertain thoughts
of worry and unbelief.
With this newfound freedom from worry, you will begin
to soar to new heights. Your new spiritual and intellectual
insights, your new freedom, and your new productivity will
cause your self-esteem to rise correspondingly!
END