Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
A person can certainly find plenty to worry over these days with all the dismal news about the economy here in the U.S. and abroad. It does seem some people are “born worriers”, however. These people will invent something to worry about if they can’t find anything. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines worry as, "a troubled state of mind, anxiety, uneasiness distress”. There are many reasons a person might worry beyond economic woes. Divorce, separation, death, illness, wayward children, one’s job, broken relationships, etc. all can lead to worry. The list could go on and on.
Worry and fear go hand-in-hand. Fear can paralyze a person and can cause physiological as well as psychological problems affecting the body and the mind. Worry can keep a person from sleeping and losing sleep just compounds the problems. Medication can help some people with worry and anxiety, but the Bible teaches us that God has some warnings about worry as well as some answers (Matthew 6:25-34). Prayer is one answer.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Notice that we should allow nothing to worry us, and we should pray about everything. Everything about you is important to God no matter how small or big it might seem. He wants us to share with Him our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:6-7). Worry is the absence of faith. Therefore God calls upon us to have faith in Him and to focus our mind on spiritual things (Philippians 4:8-9). God replaces worry with peace (John 14:27).
The next time you find yourself worrying about something ask the question, “Is there something I can do about this?” If so, then do something instead of worrying. If not, then turn it over to God and trust Him to take care of it. Just be careful to not become reactionary to everything little thing that comes along. Remember the saying, “90% of what we worry about happening never happens.” 04-02-09
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