Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matt. 6:27)
Two men on a bicycle built for two climbed a steep hill. When they finally reached the top, one said, “Whew! That was a stiff climb. I think it was the hardest hill I’ve ever ridden.”
“Sure was,” his companion replied, “and if I hadn’t kept the brake on, we would have slid down backwards!”
Worrying is like pedaling uphill with the brakes on. Anxious thoughts make life ten times harder.
Worry is our feeble attempt to manage the uncontrollable, and it is a useless waste of energy, despite my friend’s claim that worry works great for him. He said, “Ninety percent of the things I worry about never come true.”
Worry is contagious. Verbalizing anxieties is like sneezing in the car—you pass the virus to everyone around you. Soon, everybody’s negative. Before spewing negativity, ask yourself if these are the kinds of words you want to hear.
Like dandelions, it’s best to nip worries at the first rising so they do not germinate and spread. When worry multiplies, joy decreases. It is impossible to be anxious-ridden and joyful at the same time. One always expels the other.
There’s a good reason Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Every day has enough challenge without adding concerns about things that haven’t reached us yet.
Give your worries to the Lord. He can handle them.
Mark O. Wilson is assistant professor of discipleship, multiplication, and renewal at Southern Wesleyan University (SC) and author of Filled Up, Poured Out.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
