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PART II: THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER
CHAPTER 13
THE WILL OF GOD
CONCERNING WORRY
Introduction
Casting the whole of your care--all your
anxieties, 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 "shooting" 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 bloodstream, 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 increased 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, overconcern 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. 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, this we
commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat. (2 Thessalonians
3:10).
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 covetousness.
Covetousness is really idolatry--placing someone or something
before God:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you. (Matthew 6:33).
We are to trust God and always place him first in our lives.
Sin can hinder God from meeting our needs. Sin can also
cause anxiety.
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). Anxiety or worry could be caused by
a lack of understanding of God's Word.
How to Overcome Worry
One must do his part--God always will do his. The Bible
defines the human role and God's role.
One primary way to defeat worry is to work. It pays to
"work smart":
If the iron [axe] be blunt, and he do not
whet the edge, then must he put to more
strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
(Ecclesiastes 10:10).
Why cut wood with a dull axe when you 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?
In other words, why not take time to train in an occupation,
before trying to work in that occupation?
Applying oneself to learn the scriptures and internalize
appropriate principles is another application of Ecclesiastes
10:10. I believe that most people should attend at least one
year of Bible college to "sharpen his axe" spiritually. Why
stumble through life being harassed by the Devil, when a
knowledge of the scriptures brings freedom?
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed
on him, If ye continue in my word, then are
ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:31-32).
Freedom includes freedom from worry.
Sin can cause worry. The cure in this case is confessing
and forsaking sin. We must confess sin immediately and receive
forgiveness:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
Sometimes there may be secret sins--sins that we are not aware
of:
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou
me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant
also from presumptuous sins; let them not
have dominion over me: then shall I be
upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression. Let the words of my
mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength,
and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14).
The last verse is a good verse to memorize and to pray often.
The following verses are also good to memorize and to pray if
there is a problem getting our prayers answered:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me,
and know my thoughts: And see if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24).
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 circumstances. Delay is not denial--
look to God and not the calendar!
(We must keep in mind that every good thing we receive from
God comes on the basis of Jesus' death on the cross and not our
good deeds).
Jesus commands us not to worry:
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life [do not worry about your life,
(NIV)], what ye shall eat, or what ye shall
drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall
put on. Is not the life more than meat, and
the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of
the air: for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they? Which of you by taking
thought [worrying] can add one cubit unto his
stature? [Who of you by worrying can add a
single hour to his life? (NIV)] And why take
ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies
of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: And yet I say unto
you, That even Solomon in all his glory was
not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if
God so clothe the grass of the field, which
to day is, and to morrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye
of little faith? Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things. But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you. Take therefore no thought
for the morrow [Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow (NIV)]: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew
6:25-34).
"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 inherited disposition? If Jesus
tells the believer not to worry, then it is possible not to
worry! "With the commandment comes the enablement."
Paul also commands the believer not to worry:
Be careful for nothing [Don't worry about
anything (Today's English Version)]; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7).
Once one has requested something in God's will in faith, God's
peace will settle in the believer's heart.
David instructs,
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall
sustain thee: he shall never suffer the
righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22).
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in
him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm
37:5).
David's son, Solomon adds,
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy
thoughts [plans] shall be established.
(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
anxieties, 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).
It is for the best of all that we obey God. 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 concerns, 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 will surely 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 in your personal life. Worry robs us of
faith and hinders our prayers from being answered. Expect your
prayers to be answered!
END
