Do you get a sense that most people (including you) are worried about something these days?

Some worry about grades in school, job interviews, approaching deadlines, bills and expenses, rising gas prices, insurance costs and endless taxes. Some worry about current events such as; ebola, wars, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, economy, health care, immigration, NSA surveillance programs, data breaches (Target, iCloud, Home Depot, Chase), unemployment, elections, immigration, fuel prices, riots, nuclear threat, ISIS, world-wide terrorism, rising police state, Israel-Hamas conflict, VA medical care controversy, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stock markets, wild fires, turmoil in the Ukraine, missing airplanes…I could go on and on!

We all deal with worry in some form and left unchecked, it can become a crippling force in our lives. Worry can keep us from taking risk, from becoming the person God wants us to become, can destroy our ability to build relationships and can have an adverse effect on our bodies.

Some find ways to escape the reality of worry and some move into anxiety. Some of us numb ourselves from our circumstances, some medicate themselves with drugs, alcohol, achievement (this was me), the internet…fill in the blank ______.

Over the span of our lifetime, worrying accounts for hours and hours of invaluable time that you will never get back and it’s just not good for you.

I haven’t perfected being completely worry free, but here are some ways that help me move closer in that direction.

Give Up The Idea That You’re In Control

Worrying accomplishes absolutely nothing because most of the stuff we worry about is out of our control. Worrying is a waste of time and it does’t help you to focus on bringing about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?

You may not medicate or be a workaholic, but many of us deal with worry by going into control mode. Control becomes this addictive illusion by believing that somehow that you control all the outcomes in your life. We all do this to some extent, be honest with yourself.

Repeat this, “There is a God and it’s not me!” Go ahead say it again!

Some of us have convinced ourselves that somehow God needs our help managing things in the universe. Can you control the economy? Can you change your spouse? Can you your job? Can you control a storm damaging your house? Can you control the stock market? Can you control your kids? (Some think you can) Can you control flight delays? Can you control water damage from a leaky pipe? I could keep going!

Recognizing this is a great first step!

Bring Your Worries To God.

Not sure about you, but convincing myself to chill out and repeating “everything is going to be ok,” does not really make the worry go away.

Paul shares some powerful words in his letter to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” or how about what Peter shares in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Worrying is the opposite of trusting God, so try this next time an anxious thought comes your way…give it to God. Ok, does this mean that you’re never going to worry? No, we are human. The idea is this; whenever you feel worry just take it to Him. Our job is not to make the worry go away, our job is just to bring it to Him.

Listen And Respond

When you pray, is it a one way conversation? If it is then you’re not listening. Try this the next time you bring your worries about to God…ask Him a simple question like this, “God what do I need to do?”

Sometimes a concern is a prompt to take action.

For example, let’s consider the journey of the Israelites from their place of bondage in Egypt to their place of freedom and redemption in the Promised Land. The scene becomes desperate for the Israelites as they see Pharaoh’s army bearing down on them and they begin to panic because they don’t believe God. It says in Exodus 14:11, they told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?” Moses receives a revelation from the Lord and tells the Israelites to not be afraid, to stand firm, and to watch God do His work of salvation. The people continued to panic out of unbelief and Moses begins to pray to God. God basically tells Moses to knock it off and to get moving!

Focus on God

Did you know that Paul wrote the the letter to the Philippians during his imprisonment in Rome?

Wait a minute, what?!? How could Paul have written these words while sitting in a prison cell? Well..check out the scene from the book of Acts around chapter 23; But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

Wow! Paul is convinced that he is not alone; he is convinced that God is with him!

Living in the love and care of God was first and foremost in Paul’s mind and once you learn to hang out in this place (not easy) there is nothing in the world that can take it away!

Wrap yourself around this: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

When we stay focused on God, its easier to remember how much He loves us and that we have nothing really to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn’t care.

Will these steps free you from all of your worries overnight? No, but take inventory of your worry quotient. Is it high? Then give them a try, what do you have to lose? It might be the very step you need to living a more worry free life.

Remember, this will not keep you from all problems, from all pain, all trouble and from all loss. This means that God will not allow anything to harm your soul.

Are you ready to start living a life worry free?