What do you think older adults say they've regretted most in life? You might think it might be big things like divorce, not finishing school, poor business decisions, or not spending enough time with loved ones.
Believe it or not, it was none of those things...
Most of these older people said they most regretted the time that they spent worrying. Many of us worry… nineteenth-century author Mark Twain once said, “I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”
Worrying can be described as feeling uneasy or overly concerned about a situation or problem. Some amount of worry… let’s call it a lack of serenity... which is normal for most of us. Sometimes, a little worry or anxiety can be helpful... for example, if a student appropriately worries about a test, it may help them study more and be more prepared on test day.
But, some of us worry excessively. We have no serenity. Some worriers may even subconsciously think that if they "worry enough," they can prevent bad things from happening. But the fact is, undue worrying can negatively affect our minds, bodies, and spirits in ways that may harm us. When worrying becomes that excessive, it can actually make us physically ill. Chronic worrying can also lead to excessive stress in our lives… stress that causes many people to seek to escape by overeating, pornography, smoking, alcohol, or drugs. It can even lead, in extreme cases to debilitating anxiety or even panic attacks. (If you are experiencing debilitating anxiety or panic attacks of any kind, contact your licensed mental health professional if you have one, otherwise go to a local hospital emergency room immediately!)
And for all that, what does worry get us? Consider the words of Jesus:
Luke 12:25
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
A quick search of the internet will offer a host of man-made cures for worry including prescription medications, herbs, supplements, relaxation rooms, vitamins, water therapy, and exercise among other things. One often Googled mantra is “this, too, shall pass”. Some use it to get through difficult times in life… but it is not found in the Bible.
But here’s the thing dear reader… although some of these can be somewhat helpful in the short term… all will eventually fall short over time because each depends on the things of man rather than the power of God.
As Christians, we best wage war against worry not in our flesh, but by tapping into the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Consider the following:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “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? 26 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?
27 Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Between the lines here, God is asking us to trust Him for our needs. If it seems like He is not answering our prayers right away, remember that He has an eternal perspective, not a short-term worldly focus like many of us do!
When we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, God will bless us with His power, protection, and provision. When we pray consistently and in faith, our prayers will be effective against evil and help end our worry. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we call upon His strength and not ours alone. When we consider the words of Paul in Philippians, we can begin to actively work towards contentment and serenity in God’s strength and not our own.
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
Worry is a waste of time and energy because, in the end, we are powerless to change certain things anyway. Things are what they are. Knowing this then, how do we pray? One way is the serenity prayer…
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. - Reinhold Niebuhr
Rather than worry about things we cannot change, let’s take to heart Jesus’ words:
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
That is an invitation that is hard to resist!