The Burden of Worry

Mark Twain, the quintessential American novelist and humorist, said that he had worried about numerous disasters in his life, “most of which had never happened.” His remark may bring a grin to our faces. But beneath the smile is a stark reality. Worry is a debilitating state of mind. If not dealt with, this emotion can erode our joy, peace, and healthy sense of God’s presence.

I will never forget when I learned one of my most valuable lessons about overcoming worry. I had taken a mission trip abroad to a rather remote country, despite knowing about a crucial meeting that would take place in my absence. As I traveled from city to city, I constantly fretted about the outcome of the meeting. I felt I had made the wrong decision, since I was sure my presence at the deliberations was critical to its success. My mind was terribly distracted.

Although there was an eight-hour time difference, I decided to talk to the Lord at the precise time the meeting was held. As I prayed in my hotel room late in the evening, God spoke clearly to my troubled spirit: “Charles, who would you prefer to attend the meeting—you or Me?” I laughed out loud as God quickly put an end to my anxiety and undue sense of importance.

Prayer reminds us that God—along with His power, wisdom, and love— is on the scene.  Throughout my life, prayer has been the most direct link to sensing God at work in my life. When we pray, we’re entreating the Father to become involved in our circumstances and actively placing the results into His sovereign hand.

What I needed on my mission trip, and what I continue to need every day, is to listen to what God has to say to me. Hearing the heavenly Father speak in the conversational tone above doesn’t happen frequently. But we can learn to keep our spiritual receptors attuned to God’s wisdom. We begin by quieting our hearts and minds and being still before Him. A busy, preoccupied mind has great difficulty hearing the soft and gentle voice of the Savior. Had I not deliberately found time alone, I don’t believe I would have heard the Lord speak directly to my need.

The Lord often communicates to our souls through Scripture. When we approach the Bible as if we are listening to the voice of God, our time spent reading and studying will focus more on what the Father is saying to us. We may ask, “What is this passage telling me?” or “What should I do, Lord?” Just as a couple builds their relationship through conversation, we establish a personal relationship with the Father through our times in prayer with Him. He delights in our dialogue because He wants to reveal Himself to us.

Worry creates ripples of fear and uncertainty, keeping us agitated and uneasy. We must deliberately turn aside from anxiety and wait for His input and guidance. While there are numerous scriptures that speak directly to the problem of worry, I have found one to be particularly helpful. Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” God will execute His will for the person who steadfastly trusts Him to accomplish it. Don’t allow worry to force your hand into some rash act; wait on the Father’s timing.

It’s impossible to enjoy the pleasure of God’s presence if you are, at the same time, worrying. Psalm 37 also says, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (v. 3). Underlying most of our concerns is the notion that somehow God will not come through for us. When we learn to delight in the Lord and to focus our attention on Him through worship and prayer, we can reverse the effects of worry. When we affirm God’s goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, the explosive nature of anxiety is disarmed.

Why does the Lord command us to stop worrying? He knows it ultimately leads to evil (Psalm 37:8). We don’t have to understand all the implications of worry; we just need to obey God and do our best to “cease and desist.”

This is the kind of commitment the Father desires. Once you make it—and keep making it—worry will diminish and faith will rise and triumph. You’ll rediscover joy, and the pleasure of God will be yours to enjoy once again.

Adapted from “A Touch of His Presence” by Charles F. Stanley. 2002. pp. 25-26, 65-66.