The stress of worrying

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew‬ ‭6:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Worry is like a rocking chair”, said an old wise man, “it gives you something to do but takes you nowhere”. Worry is stressful and won’t let you maximize the best out of life.

Jesus threw a question to his audience of the day if worry could add a single moment to their lives? or as other versions put it “which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”

‭You see, worry won’t add a single moment to our lives or cause an inch of growth to our stature or height. There is not even one single benefit attached to worrying. Worrying is a natural tendency associated with human beings. Every human being will have the propensity to worry. May I challenge you that just because it is natural doesn’t mean it should be okay or you settle with it especially if it can be at the expense of your very life

Permit me to talk about the devastating effects of worrying and I will step out of your way

1. Worry makes you miss the moment

Worry makes you preoccupied and causes you to miss opportunities that are nearby to seize. Everybody in his or life will be gifted with defining moments. The difference between successful and the unsuccessful ones are those who have the ability to prospect and discern those times. You need a clear mind to think and seize moments that may come unfortunately once (maybe) in a lifetime. Sometimes, when defining moments happen after you have missed the first (or second), you will not be as strong, active & resourceful to grab it even though you recognize it. In our times of strength, when we have vigor now; with both hands, grab and seize the moment that comes your way. Worry makes you have a cluttered mind therefore you will see EVERY DAY AS ANOTHER DAY. By the way, every day is not another day, some days are special and you will be a complainer. Worried people whine

“But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things;” LUKE‬ ‭10:41‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Martha had the opportunity to sit at the feet of the greatest teacher of her day in Jesus. Imagine the person you respect in your field has the opportunity to sit down one on one with you. Will you seize it or let it slip? Martha let hers slip at that very moment and complained of her sister, Mary to Jesus that she had left all the kitchen chores for her. Jesus wasn’t against kitchen chores or attending to your guest but from the spirit she spoke from. She spoke out of worry. She was a worried person hence her complaining attitude

2. Worry gives you a sad countenance

“Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.” Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Worry weighs like a heavy burden on your emotions- you are sad, feel hopeless and negative. People who worry can’t keep friends and wonder why they have no long lasting relationships. Worried spouses can be burdensome in a marriage. They are worse than Inspector Columbo. Everything calls for investigation under their suspicious bias. People who worry cry at the least thing and burst out in uncontrollable anger. They are very unpredictable, emotionally speaking. People like that, you just tiptoe around them in a relationship wondering if he or she is in a good mood today. That in itself is exhausting. Just this weekend, I read on the news about an actor who was fired because he was abusive on set, made his female colleagues cry on set, complain about everything & then there was a tape of his outburst which I saw on YouTube. As talented as he was, he lost his job because he couldn’t keep a lid on his emotions- the root of all that is he is worried. Worry is indeed a heavy burden

3. Worry makes you sleepless

“you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:24‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Worry will destroy your sleep pattern- a dangerous way to live on earth. As humans, it is important we have a good night’s rest to rejuvenate and get ready for the next day. When worry is on you like a burden, that time of rest and rejuvenation will become a period of torture and restlessness. That in itself has set you up for how your day will go- grumpy, moody and what have you… lack of sleep kills. In the 1980s, a University of Chicago researcher named Allan Rechtschaffen conducted a series of groundbreaking experiments on rats. After 32 days of total sleep deprivation, all the rats were dead. Man has to live a balanced life of working, sleeping, having fun & take a break- all in balance. Not too much of each

I pray for everyone reading this article that may you find rest for your soul. Let us look at overcoming worry in our next post

Till I come your way again

Peace & Love