Worry and Stress

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:27

Jesus tells us not to worry, to trust in God for all our needs. He assures us time and again that God knows what we need before we ask and that He loves us enough to meet our needs.

“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?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 25-34

With this assurance, why, then, do we continue to worry? Worry . . . stress . . . is a major health concern in our world today. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, sales of alcohol and drugs, therapy – they all profit from worry.

Now, for the one who does not believe in Jesus, the search for a cure to dull the physical manifestations of worry makes sense. However, why do those of us who confess to know Jesus and who believe in Him and trust in Him, seek after the same remedies?

Do we secretly distrust our Lord and Savior? Do we doubt the validity of His promise? Do we convince ourselves that His salvation is for others, but not for us?

Or is it something more worldly? We believe Him and we believe in Him, but the evidence still speaks to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that some people in our world still lack the basic necessities of life; food, clothing, shelter. How do we reconcile God’s promise with what our eyes plainly see?

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but as a lifelong Christian who grew up with Jesus by my side, and who simultaneously struggled with depression, and who currently takes prescription medication for anxiety, may I suggest one or two causes?

In my case, my struggle with worry and stress stem from two main sources:

1.       Imperfection

2.       Lack of control

Because I am a Christian and have been since my youth, I struggle between knowing what is right and doing what is right. I often feel that since I know better, I should do better. Yet, time after time, I fail. I am habitually lazy and, as Paul said, “my spirit is willing, but my body is weak.”

This constant struggle between wanting to do right – whether with my prayer life, work, or taking care of my body – and not doing all I think or know I should do, I worry and stress about my life.

It is a vicious cycle.

I am, and have always been, a control freak. My need to remain in control of myself kept me from ever indulging in alcohol or drugs.

Although my need for control has saved me from some terrible paths, it has also hindered me from some wonderful adventures – love, friendships, experiences.

My need to know the next ten steps, the difficulty for me to walk on faith, causes undue anxiety and stress (and worry) in my life.

So, is there hope for someone like me? I believe there is hope for all of us.

For me, it is knowing my weaknesses, admitting my weaknesses, and praying often for help to overcome them.

For me, prayer is the key.

When I remain in close communion with God, the worries dim.

When I remain in close communion with God, I am able to forgive myself for my shortcomings because I know He forgives me.

When I remain in close communion with God, taking that step of faith is easier because His voice is clear and sure.

As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:7 “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” These struggles of mine may never cease, but when I remain in close communion with God, they become bearable because I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He loves me and that His grace is sufficient for me because His power is made perfect in my weakness.

“I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Picture of the ruins of Corinth (taken by my mom during her recent Footsteps of St. Paul pilgrimage).