Today, as I was leaving the grocery store, I passed a freezer full of bagged ice and I had to laugh at the advertisement on the door, “healthier than homemade.” Really? My homemade ice is not as healthy as the grocery store ice? Seriously? I guess my water filter doesn’t stack up to their water filter? My first thought upon reading this was, “I think we’ve gone too far….” If you find that you are having a pleasant day without a care in the world, then flip on the news… and in no time at all, you will find your mind full of things that can cause you to worry! Is worrying really necessary? Does worrying about every detail of everything that might possibly go wrong give us more control over our lives? Surely not! In fact, the opposite is true. The more things you find to worry about, the more time you will waste trying to guard against unnecessary things.
Some people worry constantly that their home isn’t clean enough. “What if there are germs in my house and my family gets sick?” Unfortunately, no matter how much cleaning we do, our homes will never be germ free. Believe it or not, some germs are even helpful! Some people worry about not looking their best. Every mirror they pass causes them to stop in their tracks for a quick once over. Some people live in constant fear of where our country is heading. Every conversation turns to a hysterical synopsis of everything going wrong in the country. Am I recommending that we wander around like dodo birds pretending everything is great? No. What I am saying is worrying never solves anything. If there is a problem and you can solve it, then solve it. If there is a problem you cannot solve, seek out someone who can solve it. If no one can solve it, realize that God is in control (and that’s not just a cliché) and ask Him to increase your faith that you may increasingly trust Him.
A worrying spouse is an aggravating spouse. I don’t mean that to sound harsh, it simply is what it is. A husband who is always worrying about money will likely drive his wife nuts by micromanaging every purchase from cotton balls to trash bags. A wife who is obsessed with keeping a perfect house will likely drive her husband and kids away with her constant criticism of where they leave their clothes or how much dirt they track in the house
Worrying isn’t a battle for everyone, although many of us worry about something. For those who are prone to worry, I would encourage you to not only read and memorize Scripture concerning God’s sovereignty, but to also write out the verses and post them everywhere. Put them in your purse or wallet; have them on your fridge; have an accountability partner who is not afraid of asking about and confronting you on this issue. So, what is the productiveness of worrying? By now, you can see that it is not productive at all. More so, the Bible says that it only leads to evil (Psalm 37:8). As hard as it may be to swallow, constant worry displays a lack of trust and faith in God.
First, it is necessary to confess your sin of worrying and ask God to forgive you for putting trust in other things beside Him. Second, ask Him to give you peace about the circumstances beyond your control and for Him to reveal to you how to solve the problems that are within your control. The sooner you realize, and realize to your innermost core, that you are not in control of your life, the easier it will become to put your trust in Christ. Your current relationships and future marriage will be more pleasant as a result. If worry is an issue for you, begin to take your burdens to Christ today. Ask Him how He wants you to interact with the issue. He may show you a way to resolve them – or, He may just tell you that His grace is sufficient for the meantime. Taking those things to Him will be a blessing to your walk with Christ and to your future marriage.
Are you prone to worrying? If so, what are your worries and what can realistically be done about resolving them?
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