An Antidote for Worry
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."1
Dale Carnegie writes, "If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying. Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars ... or your two legs ... or your hands ... or your hearing? Add up what you do have, and you'll find that you won't sell them for all the gold in the world. The best things in life are yours if you can appreciate yourself."
Years ago when I was a student in Chicago driving a city passenger bus in the summer, I was greeted by a very refined elderly woman passenger who tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Young man, you're a millionaire!" That was news to me. However, after a pause, the lady continued, "You have your health!"
She was right. Counting our blessings, as Carnegie suggests, is not going to take away our problems but it certainly can help us handle them much better—especially if we daily give God thanks in every circumstance—good or bad.
It also helps me when I am worried or stressed to write down all the things I have to take care of and list them in order of priority and try to tackle just one thing at a time. But the best antidote of all is to pray and tell God that I am scared and am worried, but I choose to trust him to help me work through the things that have me worried. In time my feelings catch up with my choice to trust God.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I commit and trust my life and way to You afresh this day. Here are my concerns [spell them out to God one by one]. Help me to see things as they really are. I surrender them all to You and choose to trust You to help me work through each one. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name. Amen."
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
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All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.