Overcoming Worry #2 of 2

Excerpt taken from the book, Overcomers, A Study on Gaining Victory Over the Obstacles in Life by Jeffrey Bush

Last week, we explored the initial four tools that assist us in managing worry. As we conclude our study today, let us consider a few more strategies to effectively alleviate your worries.

Change your focus.

Almost everyone has heard or knows the story of David and Goliath. The young shepherd who takes down the warrior giant. But the interesting thing about the story is that King Saul, his son Jonathan, and the entire Israeli army was also present that day. They were ready to go to war until they saw the giant walk out. Everyone cowered, and no one was willing to die at the hands of the giant. When David spoke up, his brothers mocked him, the king mocked him, and the giant mocked him. “David is a dead man,” was the thought of everyone who was looking at the fight that day. But they were all missing something. David was not focused on the stature of the giant, he was focused on the strength of his God. David didn’t see this fight, or even his life for that matter, with the same eyes everyone else was using. David’s focus was on God, and God had never lost a battle up to that date.

You and I would be wise to take notes from David. Your worries are small in the shadow of our great God. Are you worried God cannot handle your problems or that He will fail you? Has God ever abandoned you or failed you in the past? Are God’s promises not good for today? If God is still alive, on the throne, and faithful to keep His promises, then the problem does not lie with God. Maybe it’s time to change the focus from the problems of life to the power of God. God is greater, stronger, and more powerful, so place your focus on Him. When your focus changes, your worries will diminish.

Quit comparing.

We live in a social media-driven world. You can see and know about people you went to school with twenty years ago or friends that live hundreds of miles away. While there are great advantages to social media, there are great disadvantages as well. Of those disadvantages, jealousy and comparison have to be near the top. You can see what others ate, where they vacationed, who they visited, and all the glamorous aspects that they want to show. You might say, “one should rejoice with those that rejoice,” but the honest truth is that we want the life of others and to be happy like everyone else is. This comparison becomes unhealthy and makes us live in misery, along with all those close to us. And because we want the portrayed happiness everyone else has, we live worrying that our lives don’t match up to everyone else’s.

What Jesus said to Peter as they were walking down the road seems very applicable today. Jesus was telling Peter about his future, and all of a sudden, Peter asked Jesus about John, saying, “Lord, and what shall this man do?” (John 21:21) Jesus could have told him that he would see, or it wasn’t time to know, but instead He told Peter, “What is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22) In essence, Jesus told him to not worry about John, just to do what he knew was right and follow Him. Wow! Today we walk around questioning why God would let someone act like that, live like that, not have any problems, and apparently have everything in their lives. But we should learn what Peter learned that day: quit worrying about everyone else and live your life for God like you should.

Think on the promises.

God has given His children so many exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). Next time you begin to worry, start looking up, listing, and rehearsing God’s promises out loud or in your heart. Here’s a few to think on:

• God will never, never leave you. — Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 49:15
• God will never stop loving you. — Romans 8:38-39
• God has wonderful thoughts of you and plans for you. — Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9
• God wants to hear from you. — Hebrews 4:16
• God no longer remembers your sins. — Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; Colossians 2:17
• God wants to give you rest. — Matthew 11:28-30

Let’s close out this study about worry by meditating on the old hymn entitled “It Is Well with My Soul.” When you’re worried, just remember that God can make all things well.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.