How to Battle Worry

Worry — I Wish I Wasn’t So Good at It

“Heart regular rhythm without a murmur or gallop…”

As a child, I would listen to my dad, a family doctor, dictate charts…slowly memorizing a whole list of ailments-I-don’t-currently-have-but-could-get-someday.

Add in 5 children and a husband– and I can come up with many hypothetically tragic scenarios to consume hours of worry-filled energy.

My mom had a blood clot in her leg–
I immediately began feeling pain in one of mine.

Our daughter complained of stomach pain–
I was sure her appendix was about to rupture.

It didn’t help that our 4th child’s symptoms were a reality.
After months of reassurances…
We learned that Selah had the disease Pompe–
Which she eventually died from in April 2008.

In some ways, that led to a healthy perspective–

Teach me to number my days,

that I may present to you a heart of wisdom.

~Psalm 90:12

On the other hand–it only amplified my tendency to–
Worry.
Fear.
It is such a struggle for me.
But I’m thankful for the battle–
Because it keeps me coming back to God, clinging to Him, focusing my mind and heart on what I know is True.

So how do I battle the worry?

1. I call it sin.
In my worry, I’m doubting who God is, His control over all things.
I’m forgetting His unfailing love.
I ask Him to help me– Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. ~2 Cor. 10:5

It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity,
because worrying means that we do not think
that God can look after the details of our lives,
and it is never anything else that worries us.

~Oswald Chambers

2. I cling to my worry-verses.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. ~Psalm 56:3
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. ~James 5:13
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ~Philippians 4: 5 and 6

3. I stay in the present.
God promises strength for the current….not the anticipated.
God already knows what my tomorrow will be…it will not catch Him off guard.

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. ~Matthew 6:34

He begs you to leave the future to Him, and mind the present. ~George Macdonald

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. ~Corrie Ten Boom

4. I choose to believe.
I will believe who God is.
I will believe that His love is faithful.
I will believe that His plan, what He allows, is best.
And I will pray– I believe, help my unbelief. ~Mark 9:24

5. I pray thankfulness.
With His help, I give thanks.
With His help, I remember–
That if my hope is not in Him,
I’m clinging to an idol.

Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don’t need to search any further for security. ~Elisabeth Elliot

6. I remember that little eyes are watching.
A huge motivator.
I want to live out– Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7

7. I think about Heaven.
This is not the end.
I know Heaven is real.
And that changes everything.

If God is for us, who can be against us?…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,

nor things present nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Romans 8: 31, 32, 35, 38, 39

Worry is never over.
It’s a constant struggle.
But when I start to sink into a swirling pit of fear,
I want to face and fight the battle–
With Him and through Him.

…for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. ~2 Timothy 1:7

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http://planetnomad.wordpress.com/ planetnomad

It truly is a battle of the mind, isn’t it? cf Rom. 12:2

Off topic slightly, I have a great book for you. It’s called “Where There Is No Dr” and it takes you right from wondering if you have the common cold to wondering if you have dengue fever or typhoid!
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13182607074543277164 Kara

Sounds like just exactly what I need to read
Or maybe you could just tell me some crazy stories of your nomadic days.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/11850868789361572473 Crystal

Kara, this post was meant for me! Many of these quotes and verses are going right into my little ring of memory verses for my purse! Thank you for taking the time to share these thoughts, and verses. When I was in the hospital having apbrupted with Judah, Jeremy read Psalm 121 to me, and it was so comforting. I need to revisit this, as anxiety is creeping at the door as I near “week 26″ again – and the long painful haul of the next 12-14 weeks. God Bless!
http://www.blogger.com/profile/09554663030956718573 brite

#6 is a big motivator for me. When my thirdborn was in the hospital at one week with a high fever I cried non-stop, and my kids noticed (!) and even now they remember that. I’ve had to confess to them that I didn’t trust in God’s goodness (and maybe I was a little postpartum, too). These are good lessons for them.

I have “Where There is no Doctor” from my mission trip days, and I’ve never thought to pull it out to stave off worry.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/07379019007197020163 Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozen

I can so relate to worrying over medical issues. (Just a warning: It gets worse the older you get. so nip it in the bud now!)

And it truly does seem to come down to a lack of trust in an all-knowing God. Great verses.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13182607074543277164 Kara

Funny this is Debbie…for me the kiddos are even harder than with my personal health. Didn’t consider myself a “skilled worrier” until they joines us. But I love what you wrote…what it really comes down to. That is always super convicting.

And I love reading about your whole crew.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/06222275610383122279 Liana

Thanks for sharing this, Kara.
http://www.incourage.me/community#/1408229/forum/82885/how-do-you-overcome-worrying.html Lily

What a great article. Worry really started to eat me up again today, so i went back to were i had posted the question about how other deal with it on incourage… and there was your link to this article, and it is sooo good. Wow, this is exactly it! I will go through those steps until i know them by heart, this is so well thought through and exactly what i needed:) Thanks, Kara!
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13182607074543277164 Kara

I’m so with you Lily…it’s a battle for me…
With everything going on in the world this weekend, I felt myself slipping into it too.
I’m going to pray “take every thought captive” (2 Cor. 10:5) for the both of us…
http://www.blogger.com/profile/06784057511691382628 productjunkiemama

I think that you are doing the right thing by talking out what you are feeling. I am a worrier when things are beyond my control and my daily mantra is to just take it to God and leave it at His feet. You are in my prayers!
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13182607074543277164 Kara

Thank you…
http://www.blogger.com/profile/01012197486082869337 Shelly

I totally agree! I am right there with you! SOmething I think about often! I just remember the peace I have when I do just trust him and it really helps when I need it! Following you on here too!
http://www.blogger.com/profile/03956514232932544048 Joy

I look forward to reading more from you.

http://joy-southernsocialite.blogspot.com/
http://www.blogger.com/profile/09254139097847461257 Mommy of 3

Hi Kara,

I am so happy I stopped by today to read your thoughts on worry. I am one who lives in constant worry. Our middle daughter Ash, was born with a genetic medical syndrome called Alagille Syndrome. We have been thought it all with her and I now have so many concerns of what will happen that it can consume me. I also try to hand this worry over to God, but boy is it a struggle for me at times. It is so funny, because one day in church the Priest said “Jesus does not want you to worry”. I felt as if he was talking to me. I know that Jesus does not want me to worry, but for some reason I do. Before Ash was born, I worried like every other person does, but it did not consume me. Now, I have to do what you do. Take the time needed to let God take that worry from me. Oh thank you so much for your words today. They have truly spoken to my heart.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/15273090648046464044 Jen @ Forever, For Always…

Stopping by from the NOBH, ack worry and anxiety waste so much time. I get so frustrated with myself when I give into it. Philip. 4:6 is one of my very favorite verses. Thanks for this post!
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Jessica Livingston

Thank you so much for sharing your story and thoughts. Worry has held me captive for the last 16 years. I remember the very moment when worry set in. I was seven-years-old and waiting for mom to get home on a winter’s night. Ever since then, the sick feeling in my tummy has never left. I specifically worry about my husband, my brothers and sisters, and especially my mother. Growing up I felt as though it was my responsibility to protect and take care of my mother, even though I had a wonderful Christian father. But through seeing them fight, (as I now know is unfortunately a part of marriage that I did not understand as a child) I always felt it was my duty to make sure my mom stayed safe. That feeling has followed me into adulthood and the worry it brings has prevented my of experiencing so much joy freedom. I have been a Christian and known Jesus all my life, and I feel so guilty that I cannot give up my worry. For years I have prayed on my hands and knees begging God to heal me of this. I am not sure If there’s something He still needs to teach me, whether my faith just isn’t strong enough, if it’s an issue of surrender, or if it’s grasp from the enemy that I need to be delivered of. Whatever the situation, I am just so frustrated, and feel like I’m at wits end. There have been many times where I have just wanted to give up on trying not to worry, and I say to myself, “it’s the one thing I’m truly good at, so why stop?” But I want to be free of this burden more than anything. I know it means to trust Jesus in other areas of my life. He healed me of brain tumour that caused me to loose the majority of my vision when I was 18, and fully restored my vision. He has shown me his power, love, and grave over and over again, but when it comes to my loved ones. I can’t stop worrying. Thank you again for sharing your heart. I don’t wish worry upon my worst enemy, but it is reassuring to know I’m not alone!

God bless you all!

Jessica
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It’s amazing how God can set us free!
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