PASTOR OF THE WEEK: The Problem of Worrying & How to Overcome it.

The Problem of Worrying & How to Overcome it.

Introduction: Worry has been described in the Bible as ‘Anxiety’, ‘Being Troubled’ or ‘Having Cares’.

• Most of us worry from time to time. Some worry occasionally while others worry more often due to challenges in specific areas of their lives, e.g. Job security, health, marital relationship, etc.
• Others worry constantly. They seem to be addicted to worry. Even when there is nothing to worry about, they will think of something to worry about.

What is worrying?

It means spending a lot of time thinking about negative circumstances and being preoccupied with negative possibilities. The more you do it, the bigger your worries become. You may even find yourself worrying about all the time you’ve spent worrying.

• There are different types of worries. They include what happened in the past, what is happening now & what might happen in the future.
• Once something has happened, you cant reverse it. You may not have control over what is happening now. The future may not be promising.
• Worry can be so complex because it may be possible to go about life yet you are troubled by it.
• Worries are basically fears. We fear what we think we cant    

Effects of Worry.

When worry persists, it is possible to have physical & psychological effects. Other times there are spiritual effects which may open the door to demonic oppression.

• Perpetual headaches
• Hypertension
• Ulcers
• Insomnia/Sleeplessness
• Loss of self-confidence
• Loss of faith in God
• Cast down countenance

“Worrying is like riding a rocking horse, it doesn’t get you anywhere”.

Mt.6:25-34

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry³³ about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky:³⁴ They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds³⁵ them. Aren’t you more valuable³⁶ than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?³⁷ 6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers³⁸ of the field grow; they do not work³⁹ or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,⁴⁰ which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,⁴¹ won’t he clothe you even more,⁴² you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted⁴³ pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom⁴⁴ and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.⁴⁵

What Can We Learn From This Scripture To Help Us Overcome Worry?

1. Have The Correct Perspective About Life.  V25

• Life is more than food and Clothing. These things come with time, so long you have life.
• When you have no life or you are very sick, food & clothing lose their value. Life & survival becomes important. You hardly ask for your best dress on your sick bed. Your favorite meal becomes tasteless.
• Therefore, learn to celebrate life no matter what you are going through e.g. If you have an accident with your mercedez & its beyond repair, instead of worrying about the car, thank God your life was spared.
• As long as you have life & God, He can give you something better. Things are replacable, Life isn’t.

2. Consider The Providence of God.  V26; Phil.4:19

Look at the birds in the sky:³⁴ They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds³⁵ them. Aren’t you more valuable³⁶ than they are? V26

Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers³⁸ of the field grow; they do not work³⁹ or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,⁴⁰ which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,⁴¹ won’t he clothe you even more, V28-30

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches¹⁴ in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

• Simple logic: If God takes care of other creatures so passionately- What more the human being?
• God can not allow you to famish when he feeds the birds of the air & dresses the flowers of the field.
• God is a provider by nature. He provided our salvation through His only begotten Son. He Gave us the Best; He will provide the rest.
• God places great value on you, that is why your salvation was not with perishable things.
• He is Jehovah Jireh. He supplies our needs (B/grd of Phillipian church). Whatever kind of need you have, God can supply!
• Whatever situation you have today, God cant fail to supply. He is more than sufficient. Worrying is unbelief V30 “O ye of little faith”.

3. Understand That Worry Does Not Change Anything.

And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?V27

• Worry has never changed circumstances and will never do so.
• The more you worry, the bigger the problem becomes.
• Instead worry does more harm than good to you; both physical and spiritual.
• Worry affects our mental health just as exposure to bacteria affects our physical health.
• One sign of good mental health is “…being free from excessive anxiety or depression.”
• “However, positively thinking through problems & challenges is a normal & healthy response to the pressures of life.”
• Failure to work out a solution to a challenge leads to worrying.
• God never created us to be dominated by challenges, but to dominate them. Human development in every area of human endeavor could not have taken place without challenges & immense problems.

4. Understand That God Knows Your Needs. V31-32

So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted⁴³ pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

4:6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 4:7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds⁵ in Christ Jesus.

• Things/Materialism control non-believers. Status & identity are gained by things.
• True believers are identified by their pursuit of God & His righteousness. God is primary in their lives; Things are secondary.
• God proved it in the life of Job. His love for God was not because of what he had. His relationship was not conditional.
• Even in the worst of circumstances, & had questions which seemed not to have quick answers in his life, Job trusted God.
• God knows yours needs, Don’t be anxious about anything-He will do something about it.
• Don’t worry. He is in control.Take it to Him in prayer. He wants us to express our confidence in Him & you will be at peace. Jn 14:1“Do not let your hearts be distressed.¹ You believe in God;² believe also in me”.
• I sought the Lord’s help & He answered me & delivered me from all my fears.Ps.34:4
• Delight yourself in the Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart.Ps.37:4

CONCLUSION

1. HAVE THE CORRECT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE
2. CONSIDER THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
3. UNDERSTAND THAT WORRY DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING
4. UNDERSTAND THAT GOD KNOWS YOUR NEEDS

BIO

Rev. Brian Bwalya is currently Pastor of Word of Life Christian Fellowship, a young but growing church plant in the heart of the city of Lusaka located in the Madras residential area of Kamwala and meets at Charotar Hall. Rev. Bwalya earlier planted Dunamis Assembly of God, upon graduating from Transafrica Christian University in 1997. He was later invited to lecture at Christian Vocation Training Center, a Bible College and a subsidiary of Christian Vision in Lusaka. Rev. Bwalya rose through the ranks to become Principal in 2008. He later served as an Assistant Pastor at Northmead Assembly of God Church.

Rev. Bwalya holds a BTh from TACU, an MA from the University of Pretoria and is currently pursuing a PhD from the University of Pretoria. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer at various theological institutions within and outside Lusaka. Rev. Bwalya is a teacher by profession and taught for 10 years before answering the call to full time ministry.

Rev. Brian Bwalya is married to Judith M.Bwalya, a Headteacher & Businesswoman. They have four grown children namely Grace (MBA student), Immanuel(Lawyer), Bryanand Yvonne (Univ.students).