The Weight of Worry (Part 1)

1-    Identifying What fear really is and allowing yourself to acknowledge your struggles

If you struggle with worry, just reading this title can make your chest feel tight.

Fear, stress, anxiety… they are all so very real. Your personal struggles on top of the world’s current issues can exhaust you and weigh you down. Physical struggles, relationship struggles, mental struggles, and spiritual struggles are just a few of the pressures we face. How is it possible to keep your nose above the water? How will you ever overcome this way of life? What is the perfect answer to removing these mental struggles?

Well, unfortunately, there is no perfect answer.

I personally have had a very hard time with worry and anxiety. I too often live trapped in a mind consumed with stress.

Sometimes people give tips after they have come through something. I wish I could say I have overcome these topics, but no, I still struggle with it, as most everyone does. I am learning and praying for help, but I would like to share some things that have helped me over the years and as I continue to struggle with stress.

Number one- Discovering and acknowledging what worry really is.

Worry is imagining your future without the hand of God on it.

It’s that simple. We stress, worry, and fear about things that ultimately we don’t really control. 

God created us. He created you. He has an exact purpose for your life. He knows exactly what will happen in your future. Yes, we have free choice, and our decisions are very important, but God did not create us to worry. We weren’t born with worry. Worry is something we obtain from life circumstances. Worry is learned. Worry grows.

True peace comes when we acknowledge the providence of God in our lives. It comes when we acknowledge that worry is primarily a result of a lack of complete trust in Him.

What did God promise us? 

-Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

-Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in him.

-Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.

These are just a few verses that can be found about how the Lord will not fail us! We can trust Him! We must trust Him!

Now, what about allowing yourself to acknowledge that you struggle?

Sometimes we try and act as if we are ok. We try and hide anxiety from others as much as we possibly can. We try and deal with our worry without considering the true reasons why it is there. Yes, circumstances can and will affect your mind. Sometimes it’s health, family situations, social stress, etc. We must allow ourselves to acknowledge we have an issue and that we need the grace of God to help us with it. Often, that is when I find the most relief- when I read in the Bible how fear is a real thing, and see that I’m not crazy, and that I have God to help me through.

When we acknowledge we have a struggle with something, we can better acknowledge our need for help…- the ultimate Comfort- Jesus Christ.

Reminder- Worry is imagining your future without the hand of God on it.

Part 2 to be continued. 

Vanessa Weaver