What Is Worry and How Does It Affect You?

Worry is what happens when we don’t trust that a situation we aren’t in control of will turn out like we hope it will. Worry causes us to have mental distress and agitation. Do you spend a lot of time worrying? I have to admit, I surely have in the past. As a mom, worrying is easy to fall into. I should say, as a parent because I’m sure it’s easy for dads too. When you are a parent you worry even more about the things that you would be concerned about as a person with no children because you wonder how the situation will affect your children. If money is tight and you just have yourself to feed it’s no big deal, but if money is tight and you have children to feed you’re much more likely to start freaking out.
When my oldest daughter Anna was born, I got so past worry that it was ridiculous. I actually was afraid someone would break into my home and steal her from me. I wanted to be the constant mother hen, in control of what she did and where she was at all times. I didn’t want anyone taking care of her but me. I was the only one in my mind that was reasonable enough to understand the serious dangers that babies in this world face. Okay, I’m laughing at myself a little. I was only mildly less severe when my second child was a newborn. One thing I never really considered is that worry is a sin. What? A sin? Come on you can’t be serious. Yeah I’m serious actually.
Now don’t go misquoting me or reading me wrong. I didn’t say if you worry you’re headed straight for the pit of hell. But it is sinful. Why? Because the Bible tells us to trust God. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Worry is the sin of distrusting God’s power and his promises. When we worry we are saying that we don’t trust God to take care of ourselves and our situation. It may seem harsh, but it’s nonetheless true. How do you not worry? How do you trust in a God you can’t see? I think the best way is to start studying God’s word more and more. When you read his promises to you and hear them spoken by pastors and teachers it starts to get into your heart and soul and be as the truth that it is. You start to understand that there is a reality bigger than the reality of this world.
Yes, in the world there are many bad things that happen. John 16:33 tells us that we will have tribulation but to be of good cheer! For He has overcome the world. I’m sure glad that he has. We aren’t promised that nothing bad will ever happen, but we are promised protection and provision:
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25 (KJV)
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, 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? 26 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? 27 of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Matt 6:25-27 (KJV)
I choose to trust. I don’t want to be agitated and full of distress. I want the peace that passes understanding. How about you?

Laura Taff is a single mom that loves to study the Bible. To find out more scriptures and Bible references about trusting God, read the article What is Worry? on Laura's blog titled What Do You know About Jesus?