3 Ways to Stop Worry

1. Jesus said to stop worrying. There, feel better? Maybe not. But listen to that sentence again. JESUS said to stop worrying. Do you remember when you were seven, scared about the tornado warnings and your mom/dad/grandma told you; don’t worry? You actually believed them because you thought they knew everything. Of course, as you became an adult you realized that they were actually worried themselves but didn’t want to frighten you. It worked because you trusted them. Well, who is telling you not to worry? It’s the One who has died and risen for you. He conquered the grave literally, historically, factually. If He says don’t worry, you can take it to the bank. He has a great track record of backing up promises.

2. Jesus said that you have greater value to God than birds or grass. While you are feverishly planning and number crunching, scheming and investing, a robin wakes up in the morning and finds a worm. A flower blooms without trying. God gives life. God makes things out of nothing. God will take care of you. He loves you, even as a doubting, miserly, hoarding, selfish son-of-a-gun. Don’t believe it? His Son didn’t die for your loving dog, He died for you! He will provide even your resurrection!

3. Jesus said to replace obsessing over food and clothing with obsessing over God’s Kingdom. Well, He literally said stop seeking after food and clothing. Instead, seek God’s Kingdom and food and clothing will follow. What He means is, to take the focus on your health, your investments, your career, your future, and replace them with what God has done, is doing, and will do. That’s what Kingdom means. Stop staring at what you are doing or not doing, how you have failed, how you need to do better, how you need to plan better, and how you need to be better, or else it’s all going to fall apart. Instead, look at what God has done. He sent His Son to die and rise for you. He has given you the Kingdom, and welcomed you back into His home through baptism. Look at what He is doing. Surrounding you with His people (the church), feeding you with a holy meal, and confirming His promise to you in bread and wine. Look at what He will do. He will forgive. He will raise you up. You will be ok.

We worry when we are not certain about the future. Friend, your future is certain. You have been tagged with His promise in baptism. He confirms His promise to you in communion every Sunday. Now enjoy the day, your life, and even your challenges!

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John J. Flanagan on August 9, 2022 at 6:08 am

Your words point out the need for each of us to be encouragers, even when we are fearful or anxious as well. Growing up, I used to get angry inside when my father would tell me at certain times: “John, don’t worry about it!” “Yea, sure,” I thought, “I am flunking Math again, and have to get a hundred in the next test just to get a C minus.” My old man was mostly so damn calm in what I saw as a crisis. Couldn’t figure it out until the reasons sprung out over time, during our frequent late night talks, sharing a cigarette and a beer after my mother went off to bed. Life had already brought him through hard scrabble times, disappointments, and crises, and although he never preached to me, his Irish Catholic faith was enough to float him through one storm after another. He would say, “The Good Lord will take care of you.” Those words, coupled with sweat and more effort helped me pass Math, and have kept me going. Soli Deo Gloria.

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The Jagged Word

3 Ways to Stop Worry

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