Why Worry?

If you are anything like me, you tend to overthink everything. It seems like if I can think of the possible outcomes of a situation, I will feel more comfortable approaching it. I find myself playing out scenarios in my head of what might happen but what inevitably happens is… nothing, nothing at all. Instead of worrying about how perfectly the pieces of the puzzle will fit, I almost never do it anyways, I end up second guessing myself. I’m starting to think that might be my mind realizing the “safest” option is not doing anything, therefore no harm done, right? Wrong.

For me it is the fear of failure and my perfectionism that holds me back and keeps me worrying about every little detail. This idea that I can somehow avoid any potential mistake when faced with difficulties could be achieved through overanalyzing and overthinking, is far from the truth. If anything, I am just missing out on a part of life that is normal. I must realize, I will fall, it’s normal, it’s called being human. And no one on this earth was or is perfect… except Jesus.

When I am overthinking all the possibilities and outcomes, what I think I am doing is making sure I can account for anything that might go wrong. In actuality, I just want to have control over everything in my life. This is out of another fear…that my life might become out of control. I am slowly realizing all of the things I worry about “might” happen, or “maybe, possibly, kind of, potentially” could happen. Who’s to say every situation isn’t worst case scenario. Good or bad, I am understanding that I have little to no control over certain aspects of life. I am guilty of forgetting who is really in control.

Isaiah 40:28 says, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom”. God is the Creator of the universe; He is the only one in control of everything. He knows my innermost thoughts; he knows what I’m going to do before I was going to do it. He knew everything about me and my life before I had the chance to worry about it. Without Him I wouldn’t even be here to have problems to worry about in the first place. So, why worry?

It’s important for me and other people who struggle with worrying over the things that are out of our control to remember who God is and to trust Him. Putting our faith and trust in God is the only solution because only He knows our future. In Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 through 27, Jesus says this, “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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

It makes since when you think about it, if God is ultimately the one in control then what is the point of worrying and obsessing over the endless possibilities that run through my mind. God has it under control; therefore, I don’t have to worry. Even as I write this, I just feel a weight lifted off my shoulders, because knowing this gives me a peace of mind. As it should because the bible says God gives us His peace, which surpasses all understanding. So, why worry?

It can be hard to truly let things go and give them to God. You can say, “I’m not going to worry about it, I’m done thinking about it.”, and then minutes go by and you think of that same issue bugging you again. And that’s ok, we don’t have selective amnesia about things that overwhelm us, and it wouldn’t be right to pretend like it doesn’t phase you, whatever it is. However, you have peace at the end of day, that is what keeps me sane, honestly.

Jesus, who is God (that’s a whole other story), is called the Prince of Peace, isn’t that amazing. We have peace because we have Jesus. God sacrificed His one and only son so we could have relationship with Him and not have to go through these struggles alone. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” He loves you and cares for you, more than you will ever be able to understand. So, why worry?

-MDSN

Just a note: if you deal with serious levels of anxiety, I recommend bringing that to God as well, also just know that going to counselling or therapy is a great tool that can help you. There is nothing wrong or taboo about it. I am not a professional when it comes to mental health, but it is a serious topic that isn’t talked about enough among Christians.