If you know how to worry....

Several years ago I heard a pastor say "If you know how to worry, you know how to pray". What a powerful statement!!  Lately I've found myself spending a lot of time thinking about the gunman that's running around in this area. I've downloaded  police scanner app to both my cell phone and computer and have spent hours listening to it, wondering if every car stop or every call the police go on is this animal. He has really brought  new fear to this overly peaceful area. People are changing the routes they drive to work or the grocery store so they don't have to drive the on the expressway.  Despite all the shootings being during the day, people are talking about how they aren't going out at night or how they are avoiding doing things they normally do, like taking their daily walk. The police said that people in the community are 'seeing' the shooter all over the place and calling in with leads. What is really happening is that they think they see someone fitting the description and so make the call. So far, he is still on the run, terrorizing the community.

Today, I had to make a trip to the kids school to drop some stuff for a Halloween party and as I was driving out of the parking lot, a black car pulled in and the driver, to me, looked similar to the police sketch. I quickly turned on my police scanner, did a U-turn and went back to the school just as the man was walking in. His hands were both in the front pocket of his hoodie and he looked a bit suspicious. I sat in the parking lot, shaking and heart racing, listening to make sure a call didn't come in. 

As I was driving home, the above quote came flooding to mind. What was I thinking? What did me sitting in the parking lot, worrying, help? Me worrying, wasn't going to help my kids if something DID happen. Me worrying, wasn't solving anything. 

Worrying comes so easily to so many of us. It's almost as if it's engrained in us. And if we come from a home where there was constant worry, we tend to be even bigger worry warts. Deep within the human brain is the limbic system, the area of emotion.  When we are in a threatening situation, the amygdala is fired up and we go into a state known as 'flight or fight'. In this state, hormones such as epinephrine (ie. adrenaline) are released and our pupils constrict, our hair stands on end and our digestive system shuts down to preserve energy, just to name a few changes. When we live our entire lives full of worry, we live in a constant 'fight or flight' state. Our bodies are always in a heightened state of alert, which is not the way God intended us to live.

I'm not one to throw a lot of Bible verses at a problem or use a lot of Christian catch phrases and cliches.  However, all through the Bible, we are told not to worry. I believe that it wasn't to make us better Christians or to make us 'prayer warriors'. I believe that we are given these verses as a step towards healthier living-body, mind and spirit. I believe that by living a life free of worry, we are able to focus our attention on other things, such as being a blessing to those around us and helping those in need. It's hard to fully help those around us when we are in constant worry, fight or flight....and just trying to get away from the problems we are facing.  Worry is an incredibly selfish, self centered lifestyle when you get right down to it

We all know the verse in Matthew that says:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

We also know the verse in the same passage that says: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Isiah tells us:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Psalm 112:7 is one of the my all time favorites!

They will have no fear of bad news;  their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

But what does the Bible teach us about actually overcoming these worries and fears? We aren't just going to wake up one morning and be free of all fear. It, just like worrying, takes effort. Psalm 34 says:I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

I Peter tells us:

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

We also see:
 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Overcoming worry and anxiety takes work. It's a daily effort to put our trust in God, to rely on him, to know that He has a plan. When we find ourselves in that moment of worry, it takes a switch our brain to go from an active state of worry to place of prayer and meditation.  

Action Step: If you find yourself in a constant state of worry, wondering about the bills, the kids at school, the weather tomorrow, I challenge you to begin to take some steps toward a more worry free life. Start by writing out verses on worry, anxiety and fear on an index card and putting them around your house. You can also write the verses on your bathroom mirror with a sharpie marker. Don't worry, it'll come off when you are ready to take it down, or change verses. 

Start your journey to living a more worry free, prayer filled life! 

For a great list of verses on worry free living, check out Women's Bible Cafe