Happiness & Worry
In this series we have been looking at Holy Happiness – that deep-down presence within us of joy, peace and contentment that the world cannot take away; a true sense of blessedness. We’ve learned how to have Holy Happiness and have looked at examples of some who did.
In the last few lessons we have looked at issues that we might expect would (or at least could) negatively impact our Holy Happiness. But we have seen that just the opposite is actually the case. When approached appropriately, each can contribute to our Holy Happiness.
In this lesson I want to spend time examining another such issue in life that we might seriously anticipate would rob us of all our sense of blessedness. We think it might, because most of the time it does! This issue of life is: worry.
So far we’ve looked at discipline, suffering and persecution – three words that are not among our favorites; at least, not that we want to experience regularly. Well, take these three together, and you still don’t have the impact that this one issue has in most of our lives: worry.
Worry, worry, worry…we worry about everything. Literally. Worry is an epidemic. Millions of hours of productive time and billions of dollars are lost each year due to the activity of worrying. Worry creates health issues. We have medicines to help us not worry. We even have worry warts (whatever they are)!
Worry is a problem. It’s a problem in our society, in our churches, in our homes and in many – nay, probably most – of our lives. Worry, worry, worry…don’t you hate being around someone who always is worrying. It’s a downer. It’s depressing. At the least, it can be distracting and impact your own frame of mind.
If you are a serious worrier, how does it make you feel? You may have been worrying for so long that you have grown comfortable with it; you may not even realize how to live without worrying. But wouldn’t you like to try? Aren’t you a little tired of always being worried?
“I thought we were talking about happiness?”
Not very happy so far! Right?
We are getting to the good part. We just have to identify the problem first. Think you have a handle on what the problem is…maybe some personal experience? So let me ask you this: Can you imagine describing yourself as happy while being consumed with worry?
Let’s see what the Bible says about worry and Holy Happiness.
When we talk about worry, are there any Bible verses that come to your mind? One of my favorites is found in Philippians.
"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
Four points I want to bring to your attention from this passage. First…
1. Acceptable Worry
What is there in your life that you really should spend some time worrying about? What are those few vital things you have to worry about, at least a little?
Sure, we all have some issues that cause us worry.
Two years ago I had a tooth with a rough edge that was cutting my tongue. I went to the dentist. They ground it down and said I needed a crown. I was fitted for one, and a temporary put in place. But they also said the cut place on my tongue looked really bad. Tongue cancer, surgery, treatments and over a year of recovery and we arrive at the present.
A few days ago I went back – for the first time – to that dentist’s office. I went to have the crown finally put on. I did not want to go. All sorts of thoughts and emotions hounded me all morning long. It would have been easy – it would have been natural – to worry.
But what does Paul say? What issues in your life or in my life does Paul say it is okay to worry about? Answer: NONE.
“Don’t worry about anything.” (vs. 6a)
Just in case the reader missed it, he next says: “…but in everything...with thanksgiving, let your requests be make known to God.” (vs. 6b)
Nothing! Nil, zilch, nada, zero… There is not one issue in your life that you are to spend even one minute worrying about. None!
Wow, that’s not natural. And that’s the point. Worry is a sinful, human response. As Christians we are called to something else – something better; something new.
Which brings us to the second point in this passage…
2. Our Response to Worry
What does Paul say should be a Christian’s response to worry?
“…but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (vs. 6b)
Answer: Prayer.
Instead of spending time worried; pray. Petition God. What does petition mean?
Petition means to ask. Instead of worrying, we are to go to God in prayer and ask Him. Ask Him what? To deal with the issue, according to His will, to accomplish His purposes and plan, to bring good out of this circumstance that is causing us to want to worry!
Profound truth – simple to understand and agree with, but often hard to practice – here it is:
When you feel the need to worry, pray instead. Ask God to deal with the issue. And then say, “Thank you!”
Paul said to offer our prayers and petitions with a spirit of thanksgiving! Instead of fretting, thanking; instead of worrying, praying and asking. No, this is not natural. What it is, is revolutionary; and Christian.
Paul said: “Don’t worry. Pray…and give thanks.” It really is that simple. What he said is that simple. But as we just said, it is hard sometimes to follow. Why is this so?
The answer to this question brings us to the third point of the passage…
3. Our Focus
Worry arises when we are focused on what? Answer: the problem/issue in our life.
Isn’t this the case? We become consumed by a problem. We don’t know what to do. We aren’t sure of what the outcome will be. We don’t know if we (or the person involved) will be hurt, damaged, in pain, or whatever. It is the unknown that scares us…
So we worry.
We are focused on our problem/issue. And the more you worry, the more fixated you become on the problem/issue. What should we be focused on? Or should I ask, who?
Paul says, don’t worry about anything but “let your requests be made known to God.” It’s a matter of focus. We are to be focused on God, not the problem/issue.
“God, I’m afraid of this; I’m worried about that… But I know you are still on the throne. I know you are still in control. And I know that you love me!”
You see, it’s really a matter of trust.
Do you trust God? Do you really trust that He does love you; that He will provide for you; that He knows what is happening and is still in control? Do you trust Him, or not?
Praying and petitioning with thanksgiving when problems and issues arise, shows that you trust God. Worry shows that you don’t.
You may have to talk yourself into it sometimes. “I trust God. I trust God. I trust God.”
That’s okay. Keep it up, and while doing this, make your requests known to God through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, and you will begin to relax. Worry will ebb away.
It is an amazing and wonderful thing. The more we trust Him, the more worry recedes!
Before you read this, what were you worried about? As you think about that problem, or those issues, where was your focus? Was it on the problem(s)?
Where should your focus be? Our focus should always be on God; never on the problem.
So why do we fall into worrying so easily, and worry so much? Because we are, as Christians, under attack. The final point from this passage is so important. It’s subtle, so don’t miss it.
4. Worry is the Enemy’s Tool
Look carefully at vs. 7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
What is the opposite of worry? Answer: Peace; specifically, God’s peace “which surpasses every thought.” Paul makes it clear that the opposite of worry is peace; a peace that comes only from God, and only when we pray and petition Him with thanksgiving.
If peace is available, then why do we worry? Why is worry so prevalent?
To answer that question, let me ask you this one: If peace comes from God, where or who does worry come from?
Worry is the enemy’s tool!
Satan tempted Eve, and she was worried she might be missing out! She worried that maybe God was holding out on her and Adam. She began to focus on the fruit, and took her focus off of God. You know the rest of the story.
God’s peace, which is the opposite of worry, does something very specific according to this verse from Paul. What is it that peace does?
It guards.
Read the verse again: “And the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 7)
Another simple truth: You only need a guard if there is danger!
Worry is a distracting tactic of the devil. Worry is his attempt to get your focus off of God and onto the issue or problem in your life. Worry is one of his greatest weapons – so effective; and we fall for it so quickly, so easily and so often.
We need a guard.
God offers us one. In fact, it is His peace…an unimaginable, unexplainable, inexpressible sense of deep calm, even in the midst of the storm.
Peace! Just say the word out loud. Peace! Listen to it. What a beautiful word.
And it is this peace, this peace that God gives to His children who trust Him, who come to Him with their fears, doubts, issues and problems…it is this peace that guards us so we don’t fall for the enemy’s ploy.
Discipline, suffering and persecution…we have seen that each of these can add to our Holy Happiness when we approach each as the Bible instructs. God’s discipline is for our betterment. Suffering can make us rely on Him, and not ourselves. Persecution puts us in great company: Jesus, the disciples and the prophets! So each of these can add to our sense of blessedness (even though they are definitely not something we desire nor enjoy).
Worry is different. It will suck all the happiness out of your spirit. Nothing good comes from worrying excessively or constantly. That is why Paul wrote these verses. That is why they are in the Bible for you and me to read today; so that we will not worry any more.
Put worry behind you. Trust God. Experience peace, not fretting; try trusting, instead of worrying. Focus on God, not on the problems of life. And you will discover a new experience of true and lasting Holy Happiness.
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