Why Worry, When You Can Pray?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”
Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Worry is a learned habit, we were not born with it. It is not a natural state of mind and something that we can and should unlearn.

In the UK, NHS figures for 2007 suggest that 1 in 50 of us is affected by ‘Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)’, or persistent and irrational worry about everyday things. The Independent on Sunday reported (16/09/2008) that at least 1 in 10 of us suffers the ‘occasional panic attack.’

As Christians, we are blessed to have an alternative to worry! In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus admonished us three times “do not worry”; He encourages us not to worry about what we will eat, drink or wear, and not to worry about tomorrow. For many this admonition may seem a lot easier said than done, and to follow His advice certainly requires faith in Him, to trust Him. He instructs us in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.”

Worry only exacerbates a problem and may even make it appear worse than it really is. Yes, problems and trials in life are real and have to be dealt with, but worry or anxiety is not the way to deal with them. Not only does worry not help a situation, it can cause physical ailments and in some people, lead to depression.

For us who are Christians, prayer is by far, a more effective tool or means to resolve problems and the trials of life. After all, we worship a God who cares about us and our problems, as stated in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

God is a loving Father who desires a relationship with us. Our problems and trials can be used to that advantage as we communicate with Him in prayer and learn to trust Him. As the Psalmist writes, “…in you they trusted and were not disappointed,” and “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 22:5; 55:22).

The problems and trials that we face in life are not pleasant experiences, but they are helping to form the very image of Jesus Christ in us (Galatians 4:19). The final result will be truly astonishing and amazing, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” and indeed, for those who trust Him.

Prayer
Holy Father, thank You that You care about us and all who are related to us, help us to trust You to complete the amazing work that You are doing in each of us.
Amen

Study by Sherwin Scott