A Practical Walk

Hello, my name is Katy and one of my very biggest problems is worry. I can worry about pretty much anything. When big stuff is going on in my life, I tend to start fretting extra over even the tiny unimportant things.

I’ve done some reading on personality types and it seems to me that anybody can do any sin, but different people seem to have more temptations in certain areas than others. And apparently I’m quick to give in to worry, always have been, and I think I always will be. That’s not to excuse it, but rather to recognize it so I can fight against it harder and better. I’m learning to more quickly recognize when I’m going down a worry spiral and hopefully jump out of it before it sucks me in deeper.

Have you ever been worried about something and someone says, “Just stop worrying about it now.”

Yeah… as if there was a worry button I had turned on and could just flip the switch and turn it off. Worry is an-intangible feeling, so how do I fight against it? Something that Paul wrote to the Philipians has served as a huge help to me in knowing how to handle stressors when they come.

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NET

One problem with just stopping worry, is that it’s not getting relplaced with anything. Often when people quit coffee, they replace it with a cup of herbal tea. Smokers might switch to chewing gum instead of smoking. It’s easier to replace a habit, than just stop it and leave an empty space. And that’s what Paul’s saying here, he says what to do, instead of worrying.

I’ve used the above verses almost like a formula. For example:

“Do not be anxious about anything…”

God I’m anxious about our future and all of the unknowns.

“…Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God…”

Please show us what You want from us and help me to live for your day by day and trust in You.

and don’t forget the “with thanksgiving” part in there.

Thank You that no matter what happens You will still be our God. Thank You for people in our lives helping us think through these decisions. Thank You for all the ways You have already helped us. Thank You for story after story recorded in Your Word that shows me your faithful track record.

I’ve used these verses so many times. It doesn’t make my worries disappear and never come back, in fact I have to continue coming back to these verses and praying through what weighs me down. However, this has served as a useful tool in fighting worry.