Why Worry?

Why do we worry so much?

Sometimes we have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the things around us that we forget to just breathe. We may say yes to everything, we may overbook ourselves, we may forget our obligations, then we become overwhelmed by everything. If you’re anything like me, when I’m overwhelmed or stressed, I shut down. I know that I have many things to do, and thinking about how I need to do them in a short amount of time just makes me think I’m going to mess up. Instead of doing what I need to do, I think, Well if I’m not going to be able to do everything I need to do, why do anything at all?  At this point I’m worried. Worried that I will mess up, worried that I will not complete my tasks to my full potential, worried that I will fail.

When I begin thinking like this, I stop myself and breathe. My sister taught me this: “Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. Now breathe in, and when you exhale, do it as though you’re breathing out through a straw. Focus on that. Do that 3 times.” When you’re doing this, you’re focusing on your breathing and nothing else. You’re no longer worried about what’s around you, the things on your to-do list, or what’s echoing in your mind. Just your breathing. All of a sudden, the things consuming your thoughts are not as big.

Matthew 6: 27, 34 (NIV):

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God will take care of us. He will never leave us hanging, especially in our times of need. God made and takes care of the animals and plants he created. If he can take care of those things, he will surely take care of us. The Bible tell us not to worry and to take each day at a time because worry will not add to our life. My dad’s classmate used to say, “I will not look at my problems with a microscope.” The God we serve is so much bigger than anything we are concerned about. We need to remember to give our worries to Him, so our minds can be freed of those things. 

So whether you have a big exam coming up or many tasks to complete in a short amount of time, remember to breathe and ask God for His help.