As humans, it seems as if we are stuck in a perpetual state of worry and anxiety. It begins in early childhood as kids worrying about who to hang out with on the playground, what sports to play, and speaking in front of a class. It continues into the early teen years as middle schoolers, worrying about who their friends are, how they dress, and heavily how they are perceived by other people. It is compounded in the later teen years as high schoolers and college students who not only stress about all the things they have stressed about in the past, but now they have hours of schoolwork, pressure to do well in sports and excel in many extracurriculars.
Young adults then carry all of this stress with the added weight of trying to find a job, find a place to live, and find "the one." Unfortunately, it only continues into adulthood and beyond with worry about paying the bills, taking care of your kids, balancing a job and family time, taking care of aging parents, and finding time to focus on your own personal wellness.
So why do we worry? Because there are a million and five things to worry about. In fact, we live in a world where it is almost "trendy" to be worried. I have witnessed and been a part of conversations where people try to "out-worry" each other. One person lists all the things they are stressed about, and then instead of comforting them or offering advice, the other person creates an even longer list of all the things they are stressed about. I'm sure everyone reading this has either witnessed this or is even a culprit of doing this to someone. It is like life a competition to see who can have the most stressors on their plate.
So, I would like to make two points. Even with your mountain of stressors, you probably have a much easier life than most. And besides, there is no point to worrying.
First, I understand that life is busy and it is so easy to get caught up in a mile-long to-do list.
However, odds are if you are reading this, you have access to a computer or a cell phone. Which typically implies that you have a comfortable place to live, an easily accessible way of transportation, abundant food supply, and people who love and care for you.
If you have all this and constantly find yourself feeling stressed, try looking at all the things you do have to be thankful for. Because in comparison to the rest of the world, you have a lot. In my experience on mission trips in Mexico, some of the most carefree and happiest people I have ever met are the people who hardly have a house and live in a way that we would find to be very uncomfortable. But they are immensely thankful for all the things they do have; they consider themselves blessed. Instead of worrying, try to remember how blessed and fortunate you are to have all the things that you do have.
Second, what is the point of worrying?
You can worry for hours upon hours but that does not make the situation go away. Nor does it make the situation any better, in most cases, it actually makes it worse. So if worrying doesn't actually do anything to improve your situation, then it serves absolutely no purpose. It only wastes time and energy. Jesus put it perfectly, "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to your span of life? If then, you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?" (Luke 12:25-26 ESV).
I encourage you to reconsider your reason for worrying as it serves no purpose. Please instead remember everything you have to be thankful for. And most importantly remember that God has a divine and perfect plan for you and worrying won't change that. Everything will make sense in His perfect timing.
