Anxiety, Stress, Worry and Tension
The Problem
Mental distress or agitation results from legitimate concern over a real or imagined problem that has
grown out of proportion. Worry grips us when we allow our old sinful nature, which is the enemy of God, to convince us that
God isn't quite big enough to get us through this problem.
The
Biblical Perspective
Jesus told his disciples not to worry about even their basic needs,
because God, the heavenly Father, knows our needs and delights in providing for us. He simply wants us to give him first place
in our lives (Matt. 6:31-33). We must let God have all our worries and cares; he is watching everything that concerns us (1 Pet. 5:7).
The Word of God as Counsel
Worry is a sin which must be confessed. The place to begin is 1 John 1:9. God demands that we agree with him when he tells us our worry is uncalled for and is a sin against him. To deny that our
worry is sin is to fool ourselves and call God a liar. If we confess our sins, God will forgive and cleanse us from the wrong
in our lives (1 John 1:8-10).
Worry is limited faith that must be increased. [We increase
our faith by hearing the word.] When you worry, you insult God, because it is your way of saying, "God, you're just
not big enough to handle this problem in my life." Several times Jesus said, "O men of little faith!" He must
have been insulted and angry because those men who knew him best continued to worry about problems which were so easy for
him to solve. Don't continue in this sin of faithlessness. Replace your worry with a growing faith. Here's how: "Faith
comes from listening to this Good News—the Good News about Christ." When you read the word of what Jesus has done
for so many needy people you'll find that to trust him for the problems you're facing is a lot easier.
Worry is a habit which must be changed. Like any other bad habit, it must be replaced
by a good habit. Remember, the definition of worry is: "Mental distress or agitation...." So, in order to be freed
of this habitual mental distress, you must learn, with God's help, to habitually think on good things. Guidelines for
thinking are found in Philippians 4:8.
Adopted from — The Christian Counselor's Handbook—
