Why Worry?

We all do it. Life, work, relationships - pick the area, there are countless reasons we can point to that justify our need to worry. Some might say that some level of worry is even healthy. After all, aren't we supposed to be concerned about "doing the right thing" in every circumstance? If I don't worry, does that mean I don't care? If I don't care, then I'm a terrible person. I lose focus and don't get things done. I might lose my career, my home, my things, and damage my relationships.

First, let's recognize that worry is a natural, impulsive reaction. The root of worry is the need or desire to control. Think about that for a moment, and let it sink in. If I can control every thing, every outcome, every person, what need would there be to worry? Our worry is rooted in our need to control. The simple fact is - we are in control of very little, and worry does not change this fact. We simply cannot control other people, things, or situations. We can attempt to influence, but we cannot actually control. We can, however, control ourselves. We were hard-wired with this marvelous thing called "free will" which allows us to make decisions, regardless of circumstances, feelings, or thoughts.

Not worrying doesn't mean not caring. We can care deeply about someone or something and make a conscious decision to not worry. A lot easier said than done, to be sure. What I hope to do is to share a few things that might prove to be practical tools you can use to worry less.

My "go to" in these situations is my spiritual foundation. That area is different for everyone, depending upon your beliefs. What I share here is simply what has worked for me - it may or may not work for someone else, you decide for yourself. My spiritual foundation consists of, in part, the Holy Bible. What does the Holy Bible say about worry? Matthew 6:25-34 reads, "25 “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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Great advise, yes? But how do we put it into practice?

Practically speaking, the recipe that has worked for me is a simple decision flowchart. I'm a logical, process-minded person so naturally I gravitated towards an application of the Matthew 6:25-34 principle that involves logic. That is the inspiration for the title graphic at the beginning of this article. To paraphrase, if you find yourself worried, ask yourself, "What can I do right now?" Then, if there's something you can reasonably do, do it. If you can't do anything, or you've exhausted doing everything you can reasonably do, then stop worrying. As the verses above attest, you can't accomplish anything good by worrying.

Worry induces stress. Stress can lead to a lack of sleep. Lack of sleep causes adrenal fatigue, something a large segment of the population is suffering from and probably aren't even aware that this is the case. Adrenal fatigue wreaks all kinds of havoc with your hormones, leading to a host of health issues like testosterone and estrogen imbalances, cortisol imbalances (the hormone from which most others are made), blood pressure issues, and all kinds of mental and emotional issues. And yes, in my earlier years I have been this person who has suffered from all of these things, so rest assured I'm not someone that is preaching a message academically - I've been there, stepped in that hole, twisted my ankle, and now want to warn others, "hey, don't do what I did, that hurts!".

"Great - you say, 'don't worry' - how am I supposed to do that?" Well, here's another biblical principle with a practical application: Do the opposite. Stay with me for a minute while I unpack this one for you. Galatians 6:7-8 says, "7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." And 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, "6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

To the point, you reap what you sow. If you sow grass seed, then grass will grow. If you sow corn seed, then corn grows. If you sow worry, then you reap stress. If you sow stress, you reap health issues. Stop before you start. As soon as you have reached the point where reasonable actions are exhausted and worry starts to set in, instead of staying in the "worry" mode, read the verses above. Pray, and say this out loud, "I will not worry. I've done all I can. There is nothing more that can be done. The results are not up to me, I can't control the outcome. I'm at peace with whatever happens." Ask God for the strength to weather the storm, ask Him to reveal to you what new strength you are to gain from this trial or test, what new thing you are to learn. You may not feel this way, but think it and say it anyway. You are now sowing peace and faith (see "sows to please the Spirit" above). A funny thing happens after a while. If you persistently sow peace and faith, you begin to reap peace and faith. Your thinking begins to shift. Your outlook lifts. Your joy comes regardless of circumstances. That, my friends, is true peace and faith. And as 2 Corinthians 9:6 tells us, the more we sow, the more we reap. It works both ways, good and bad. Which do you want to reap?