How Can I Learn to Stop Worrying? Answers From the Bible

It’s so easy to worry about things, but Christians should not worry so much, so how can we learn to stop worrying?

Waste in Worry

It’s so easy to worry about things, but Christians should not worry so much, so how can we learn to stop worrying? As it turns out, most of what we worry about doesn’t even happen or is rectified, and those things we can’t change we shouldn’t worry about anyway. We must leave the things we can’t do anything about in the hands of the only One Who can. When we’ve done all we can, only God can do all He can. Trust God and rest in His sovereignty and in His timing. The Devil’s always in a hurry; God always takes His time and His timing is always best. At best, worry makes things worse and doesn’t change anything but adding stress to our lives. Worry can ruin our health, can cause stress in our lives, can create friction in relationships can zap our trust or faith in God. Worry leads to nowhere good.

God our Father

Can you imagine a child of yours coming up to you and being anxious about whether the electric bills going to be paid, or if the family has enough money for groceries this month. No child naturally checks the parent’s checkbook to see if there’s enough money in the bank to get by, but that’s what we tend to do when we worry about finances or health issues or anything else that we have no control over. God is the benevolent God Who provides for all of our needs. If our earthly fathers and mothers provided for us, what makes us think that our Perfect Heavenly Father won’t provide for His own children and in a much better manner? Who has more resources than God!? Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matt 7:11)?

Supplying our Needs

The Word of God says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). That is, God won’t change His mind about us like humans tend to do. He doesn’t withhold gifts from His children. Since our Father is God, we should “not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear” (Matt 6:31)? God will not supply all of our wants, but He will supply every need we have, and we can take comfort in the fact that “our heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matt 6:32). Our duty is to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33). What things will be added to you? Everything God deems that you will need to ge by until you pass into glory or He returns again. What you need (not want) is promised by God but we must trust Him, even when the cupboard is nearly empty.

Trusting God

One of the most calming and reassuring doctrines in the Bible is the sovereignty of God. The late pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “Not a fly moves unless God approves.” He is sovereign over all things, including the bad (Rom 8:28). Only God can make good come from evil (Gen 50:20; John 3:16). The point is we can trust God and rest in the fact that He is in complete control. Did you realize that nothing has ever occurred to God? God has never been caught off guard or surprised. Whatever happens, God knew it would happen, so whatever happens in our life, God intends it for our good and not to harm us (Jer 29:11). That should deflate our worries a lot. Things might surprise us, but never does it surprise God. If it happened, God intended it for our best, including the bad things that we encounter.

Crushing Worry

The Apostle Paul came up with one of the best solutions to worry. He tells us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6). Make a list of things you’re worried about. Call it your “Anxiety List.” Now make this list your prayer request list. Make all your anxieties prayer requests and lay them before the mighty God who not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the hills (Psalm 50:10)! Just pray about all the things you’re anxious about. Make those requests known and then walk away. God’s heard you. It’s up to Him now. Let it be in His timing. Jesus tells us to “not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried” (Luke 12:29).

Conclusion

The greatest worry anyone should have is the worry about facing the judgment of God. For those who have rejected Jesus Christ all their life, there is a place of eternal torment. I would be worried if I hadn’t trusted in Christ yet. We are one accident or one heartbeat or one breath away from meeting our Maker. Will God be your Judge or will He be your Savior? Has God brought you to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15)? If not, my prayer for you is you will heed Jesus’ warning that “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5). Your best works will not wipe one sin away. The wrath of God abides on lost sinners every day. Repent today and trust in Christ today or face God’s judgment after death (Heb 9:27) or at Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), whichever comes first.

Here is some related reading for you: How to Be Worry Free – A Bible Study From Matthew 6

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Anxiety, Anxious, Fear, Trust, Worry