5 Keys to Help You Win... Over Worry

'The word "worry" is derived from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'to strangle or to choke'. How well named the emotion. It has been demonstrated again and again in persons who have lost their effectiveness due to the stultifying effect of anxiety and apprehension. A certain well-controlled care-freeness may well be an asset. Normal sensible concern is an important attribute of the mature person. But worry frustrates one's best functioning." Norman Vincent Peale

Psychologists point out these contributory causes:-

1. Rush sickness - trying to cram thirty hours of activities into twenty-four hour days.

2. Straining - those who aren't getting ahead as fast as they think they should and strain harder for promotion or more social approval.

3. Mobility - in a recent five-year period, seventy-five million Americans changed homes, uprooting parents and children from family, church, and community relationships.

There are also many, many other issues that arise on a daily basis that can cause anxiety from 'did I lock the front door' to 'how can I survive and stay afloat in this global economic downturn'?

One of Henry Ward Beecher's favourite stories was about a young man who was applying for a job in a New England factory. Asking for the owner, he found himself in the presence of a nervous, fidgety man who looked hopelessly dyspeptic. 'The only vacancy here', he told the applicant, 'is a vice-presidency. The man that takes the job must shoulder all my cares'. 'That's a tough job,' said the applicant. 'What's the salary?' 'I'll pay ten thousand a year if you will really take over all my worries.' 'Where is the ten thousand coming from?' asked the applicant, suspiciously. 'That my friend,' replied the owner, 'is your first worry.'

1. Face each day and each problem one at a time

Matt. 6:34 - Jesus said, 'So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.'

2. Stay focused on your own race - do not worry about what everyone else is doing.

Heb. 12:2,3 - the writer of Hebrews says, 'We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus the champion who initiates and perfects our faith... then you won't become weary and give up.'

3. Don't become overwhelmed with self-pity over your own problems. There is always someone else worse off than you.

Isa. 41:10b says, '... Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.'

4. Try to be objective, even pragmatic about your situation.

Prov. 12:25 says, 'Worry weighs a person down.'

The story is told of a French soldier in World War 1 who carried with him this little rationale for worry: "Of two things, one is certain. Either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front, of two things, one is certain. Either you are exposed to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to danger, of two things one is certain. Either you are wounded, or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things one is certain. Either you recover, or you die. If you recover, there is no need to worry. If you die, you can't worry. So why worry?

5. Learn to trust in your Heavenly Father. He knows your needs and will provide for you.

Phil. 4:6,7 says, 'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Worry is most often the result of feeling that you and you alone have to be in control of your own life and destiny - cause if you don't do it, no-one else is going to help do it for you. The best antidote is to realize that you are not alone, or at least you don't have to be alone. You have a Father in Heaven who cares for you intimately. Relationship with God is the key, the answer and the ultimate antidote to worry.

This is more than a technique to deal with anxiety. There are various self-help courses and techniques that you can try but ultimately you are just trying to keep control of something that you can never have ultimate control over - your life. So why not try 'casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you.'

'Don't spoil today by worrying about tomorrow. The hills flatten out when we come to them.' Phi Delta Kappa

'The best way to forget all about your troubles is to wear a pair of tight shoes.' E.C.McKenzie

'A good memory test: What were you worrying about this time last year?' Jack Key

'Why worry when you can pray?' - Anon

'Blessed is the man who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.' Phil Marquar

'The little birds of the field have God for their caterer.' Cervantes

Ps. 34:4 - I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

1 Jn. 4:4 - ... greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Phil. 4:13 - I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

Isa. 43:1,2 - ... I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you...

Lu. 12:7 - ... Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Ps. 127:2 - ... He grants sleep to those he loves.

Ps. 91:9,10 - If you make the Most High your dwelling ... then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near you.

Isa. 41:13 - For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'

Heb. 13:5,6 - ... God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Hope this was helpful. Thanks for reading my hub.