Matthew 6:25 "So my counsel is: Don't worry about things--- food, drink and clothes. For you already have life and a body---and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. [Living Bible translation]
Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his/her life? (Or a single cubit to his/her height) [New International translation]
Matthew 6:34 [D]o not worry about tomorrow.... [New International translation] GOD will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
There are a number of scriptures in the Bible about worry. Psalms 55:22 tells us to give our burdens (whatever we worry about) to the LORD. Psalms 55:22 assures us that "HE will carry them." "He will not permit the godly to slip or fall." In John 14:27, JESUS promises us peace. Comforting HIS disciples, HE tells them (and us) "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." In 1Peter 5:7, we are told to "Let HIM have all your worries and cares, for HE is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you." In Psalms 37:1-3 we are told to "Fret not" because of evildoers but instead to "trust in the LORD."
One of the longest discourses on "worry" is found in the sixth chapter of Matthew. It is interesting that this discourse occurs right after the discourse on prayer. It was as if the writer knew that even after we prayed that instead of leaving our concerns with GOD, we would have a tendency to pick up those concerns, put them in mental "backpacks," swing them back over our "shoulders" and walk away from the altar as burdened down with fear and worry as we had been before we bowed down to pray. So, after teaching about prayer, knowing our nature, JESUS gives us some instructions about worry.
In Matthew 6:25, we are told not to worry about "things." Although food, clothing and drink are mentioned specifically, we could easily add hundreds of other "things"---like houses, cars that need repair, bank accounts, 401K's, over extended credit cards, jobs, pay checks, etc. Just as we are not to "love" money, clothes, credit card spending, we are not to "worry" about these things either. (See, Matthew 6:24)
As a practical matter, Matthew 6:27 reminds us that "worry" is a useless exercise or depletion of energy. Worry "solves" nothing. It "adds" nothing to resolving the problem. It is just "negative" energy. It grows nothing. It does not grow faith or trust in GOD.
Matthew 6:34 tells us that worrying about tomorrow is actually a distraction preventing us from focusing our full energy and attention on today. In other words, worry robs us of "present time." Instead of enjoying "the moment," we are constantly trying to look around the next bend thinking we can prevent a collision. This kind of behavior is completely in opposition to a daily life of prayer. Like the Israelites who were given "bread from heaven" in the wilderness---bread which could not be stored, but had to be gathered each day (Exodus 16:15-21), we have to trust GOD on a daily basis too. We must live one day at a time, in GOD, in CHRIST JESUS.
HOW WORRY AFFECTS THE BODY
While some concern or heightened awareness can be healthy and can even motivate a person to achieve their best, excessive or chronic worry, on the other hand, can interfere with appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep and job performance. See, "How Worry Affects the Body," www.webmd.com.
According to www.webmd.com, chronic worrying and emotional stress may trigger a number of health problems:
The problem occurs when fight or flight is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. The fight or flight response causes the body's sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as cortisol. These stress hormones can boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides (blood fats), which can fuel the body. When excessive fuel in the blood is not used for physical activity, the excessive hormones and anxiety can trigger a number of physical problems including:
- suppression of the immune system
- digestive disorders
- muscle tension
- short-term memory loss
- premature coronary artery disease
- heart attack
"How Worry Affects the Body," www.webmd.com. Although excessive and chronic worry can cause an imbalance in the body, www.webmd.com suggests a number of ways to restore harmony of mind and body. These include:
- Talking to your doctor. This may involve getting a thorough physical exam to make sure other health problems are not fueling your feelings of anxiety. Your doctor may also prescribe other treatment.
- Exercise daily. With your doctor's approval, begin a regular exercise program. Without question, the chemicals produced during moderate exercise can be extremely beneficial in terms of enhancing the function of the immune system
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Stress and worrying provoke some people to eat too little, others too much, or to eat unhealthy foods. If you are stressed, pay extra attention to what you eat and try to pre-empt "bad food choices." For example make a lunch of extra stressful day. Keep a few health snacks nearby. Avoid sugary drinks. Eat at a set time. Avoid caffeine or other drinks that will make you nervous or jittery.
- Learn to relax. Relaxation techniques can trigger the relaxation response -- a physiological state characterized by a feeling of warmth and quiet mental alertness. Common relaxation techniques include deep abdominal breathing, meditation, listening to calming music, and activities like yoga and Tai Chi. Go for a short walk to break the tension. Play some calming music.
- Meditate. Daily meditation -- instead of worrying -- may help you move beyond negative thoughts and allow you to become "unstuck" from worries that keep your body on high alert. Practice deep abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing.
- Have a strong social network. Loneliness may be as much a risk factor for disease as having high cholesterol or smoking cigarettes. Don't just go to church, join a group (e.g. the choir, a Sunday school class, a committee or a bible study). Reaching out, talking to a friend may help.
- Talk to a professional therapist. Psychological counseling can help you develop appropriate coping strategies to deal with issues that trigger excessive worrying.
In "Diet for Stress Management Slideshow: Stress-Reducing Foods," WebMD suggests a number of foods for managing stress including:
- Oranges. Oranges contain vitamin C. Studies suggest this vitamin can curb levels of stress hormones while strengthening the immune system. In a study with people with high blood pressure, blood pressure and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) returned to normal more quickly when people took vitamin C before a stressful task.
- Spinach. Too little magnesium may trigger headaches and fatigue, compounding the effects of stress. One cup of spinach (or other leafy vegetables rich in magnesium or avocados) goes a long way toward replenishing magnesium stores.
- Tea. In one study of people who drank four cups of tea daily for six week, the tea drinkers compared to another group that drank another beverage reported feeling calmer and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after stressful situations. On the other hand, some studies have shown that caffeine in coffee can boost stress hormones and raise blood pressure.
- Raw Veggies. Crunchy raw vegetables can help ease stress in a purely mechanical way. Munching celery or carrot sticks helps release a clenched jaw and that can help ward off tension.
One of the greatest forms of "meditation" for stress management is prayer. One of the strongest social networks in our community is the church. Some churches even provide professional counseling services.
THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE
One way to not worry is to pray and then train your mind to think about something else. Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to fix our thoughts on what is true and good and right. We are to think about things that are pure and lovely. We are to dwell on the good things in others. And, we are to praise GOD and be glad. Philippians 4:9 tell us to practice doing good. (Living Bible translation)
So, today, practice. Let us focus just on today. Let us pray for one another today. Let's count our blessings today, and BE BLESSED.
