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 back in our mental “backpacks,” and just swing them back over our “shoulders” 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, overextended credit cards, student debt or bills in general 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. It is the useless depletion of energy. Worry “solves” nothing. It “adds” nothing to resolve the problem. It is just “negative” energy. It grows nothing. It especially does not grow our faith or trust in GOD.
Actually, this kind of behavior is completely inapposite to a daily life of prayer. Like the early 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
Discussing some of the dangers of worrying too much, one writer pointed out:
The more worried you are that you might get sick, the more likely it is that you will, or if you do get sick that you'll end up sicker, or even dead, from an illness you might have survived if you just didn't worry so much. The more worried you are about the health of your heart, the more damage you do to your heart. The more worried you are about losing your memory, the more your memory fades. The list of damage that worry can do, because of the biology of stress, is long and scary. Which means that not worrying more than we have to may be the best thing we can do for our health.
Emphasis added. See, “Time to Worry About Worrying Too Much. The dangers of worrying too much may be greater than what we worry about, December 7, 2011, by David Ropeik, Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-risky-is-it-really/201112/time-worry-about-worrying-too-much.
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, worry can affect a body in a number of ways:
- Nervous system – This is the messaging network that is made up of your brain, spinal cord, nerves and neurons. Worrying can trigger this system to release “stress hormones” that speed up your heart rate, breathing, raise your blood sugar and send more blood to your arms and legs. Over time, this can affect your heart, blood vessels, muscles and other systems.
- Muscles—When you’re troubled or worry, often the muscles in your shoulder and neck can tense up, which can lead to migraines and tension headaches. Massage, relaxation, techniques and exercises like deep breathing, yoga, Tai Chi may help.
- Blood Sugar --- When stress hormones are triggered by work, they can give you a burst of fuel (in the form of blood sugar). This can be good if, for example, you need extra fuel to run from danger (flight or fight response). But if you are overweight, have diabetes, your blood sugar can stay high for too long, which can lead to heart disease, strokes or kidney disease.
- Immune System—If your body is affected by the physical effects of worry, it may not be able to fight germs as well. Just thinking about things that made you angry or depressed in the past can take a toll. It may be harder to fend off the flu, herpes, shingles or other viruses.
- Stomach—For some people worry can cause a “nervous” stomach. Some feel nauseous or even vomit. If this happens often, it can lead to stomach pain and sores in the stomach lining (ulcers). Eating lots of foods high in fat and sugar means the stomach has to work harder to digest them, which in turn may result in acid or acid reflux—when acid flows up into the throat.
- Intestines—Constant worrying and fretting can affect the bowels. Some may get diarrhea or find it hard to have a bowel movement.
- Sexual Health – Worry can tire you out. Over the long term, it may lower a man’s level of the hormone testosterone. It can also affect sperm development or sexual urges. For women who have gone through menopause, worry can increase hot flashes and make sleep issues worse.
In “Foods That Help Tame Stress” 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 one 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. If you don’t like spinach other green, leafy vegetables are also good magnesium sources.
- Black Tea. Drinking black tea may help you recover from a stressful event more quickly. In one study compared people who drank four cups of tea daily for six weeks, with others that drank another beverage. The tea drinkers reported feeling calmer and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after stressful situations.
- Almonds. Almonds are full of helpful vitamins: vitamin E to bolster the immune system, plus B vitamins, which may make you more resilient during bouts of stress or depression.
- 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.
See http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-diet-for-stress-management. WebMD, Medically Reviewed, 12/11/2017.
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 if you need help dealing with stress and worry. Speak to your church leaders, your physician or a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist if you need additional help.
THINK ON THESE THINGS
One way to not worry is to pray and don’t allow worry to “occupy” your mind. Instead, focus on 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 fine, good things in others and to think about all we can praise GOD for and be glad about. Philippians 4:9 tells us to practice. (Living Bible translation)
So, today, practice. Practice positive meditation and prayer and focus on GOD’s GOODNESS.
Worry Less and BE BLESSED!
