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Worrying: It’s not worth the wrinkles!

ByBree Blum

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I’ve always said that I come from a long line of worriers.  Honestly!  My grandfathered worried incessantly.  My mother does the same, and so do I.  I’m sure it’s a trait that went back more than just those three generations. It’s a learned trait.
I didn’t always feel the weight of every decision and task set before me.  I didn’t always have to hold my head because I feel like the speed in which my thoughts are racing through my brain could cause it to lift off my shoulders.  It’s a habit.  A nasty habit.
One that I wish I had never picked up.  One that I wish my family never had to endure and one that I pray that I can kick before I have children of my own, so they do not adopt it.

Have you ever imagined what a Worry Warts Anonymous meeting would look like?  The people crowded in, the stacks of pages of all of our to do lists, our anxieties, our fears, our thoughts of could-have-been’s, all thrown about, covering the floor like they cover our foreheads in lines and the corners of our eyes in crows feet.
[Tweet “What is worrying worth? It provides no benefit; only wrinkles. @breemarie83”]
Worrying is something that comes naturally to many people.  We do it so often that we don’t even realize that it has us in its grasp.  It’s often times that when the small things of life start to pile up and we find ourselves flustered or our thoughts racing a mile a minute, that worry has already won the battle.  So how, since we don’t realize that it is even happening, do we put a stop to such a destructive and wrinkle-inducing attitude?Did you know that in the New International Version translation of the Bible that worry and anxiety is addressed in at least 50 different passages?

The womensbiblecafe.com has an article on these 50 verses, but I thought I’d share the top ten that I feel can be directly applied to our every day lives.

  • Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  
  • Philippians 4:13 – I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  
  • Isaiah 41:10 – 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.  
  • Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  
  • Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  
  • Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  
  • Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   
  • Psalm 25:5 – Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.   
  • Psalm 73:26 – My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 
  • 2 Samuel 22:31 – As for God, his way is perfect:  The LORD’s word is flawless;  he shields all who take refuge in him.             
So now that you have these scriptures.  Did you read them?  No skimping, go back and read!  I’ll wait here.I’m sure you’re wondering how these scriptures are going to stop an automatic, knee-jerk reaction to the circumstances of our lives, right?  This is where a little work has to be done.  Hey, stop worrying!  I know I just added one more thing to your to-do list, but it won’t take long!  Copy down this list.  Don’t have time for that?  Is your laptop plugged into your printer?  Or are you lucky enough to have a wireless printer (whoever came up with that one is a genius!)?  Click HERE to download a free printable of the verses.

Okay now the work.  Hang on…it won’t take you that long!  Grab another sheet of paper or pull up the notes app on your phone.  Make a list of all of the places (physical locations) that you discovered yourself in a tizzy, crazed or downright worked up from worrying this past week.  If it’s been a good week take a moment and praise the Lord and then consider the past few weeks or month where you’ve found yourself overwhelmed with worry.So now you have 10 scriptures and a list of places where you’ve found yourself wallowing in a pit of worry – eww! Now is the time to play a game of match the scripture with the place.

If you found yourself worried about how you were going to pay all of the bills or the grocery tab, put a relevant scripture in your checkbook.  If you worried about the outfit you wore to church or to dinner with your husband, or to the office, tape a scripture to your mirror. If you’re worried about your weight, tape one to the scale.  If you’re worried about your love life or lack thereof, tape a verse on your computer or TV screen to remind you that the love lives of fictional character are just that, fiction.  And so on.  You get where I’m going here?

When you find yourself in these places, where worry creeps in, now you have a reminder that you’re not alone in these struggles.  Often, just by reading these scriptures when you know that a stressful day is ahead, it helps to keep things in check and does not allow it to overwhelm and control you.

Know someone else who would benefit from this type of exercise?  Share it with them! FB

[Tweet “Stop #worry in its tracks with scripture reminders of who is in control. @breemarie83”]
Remember the ten I have above are only a portion of the scriptures that deal with worry and anxieties.  Check out the link that I referenced above for additional verses or consider looking up other translations.
I leave you with one of my favorites…
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Philippians 4:6-9 (The Message)

Are you struggling to find where else to put your verses as reminder of who is in control of your worries?  Leave a message below.  I’d love to help you find the best placement so that you can win the battle over worry!

Bree is a recovering perfectionist whose weaknesses include the dollar spot at Target and any pretty office supplies. Though she is an introvert, she has an insatiable craving for community and a desire to bring light to God’s purpose in the imperfections of life. Read More

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0 Comments

  1. Amen! I stopped worrying a long time ago when I realized that it caused wrinkles! 🙂 Seriously, we are commanded to throw all of our cares over onto the Lord. Am I ever tempted to worry? Yes! That’s when I run to the word of God. Great post!

    Reply

    1. Alli, I wish I could say the same. The wrinkles are coming in nicely! Haha! My goal for the rest of this month and the coming year is to live more in the moment and release my grip on worry. I commend you for your faithfulness and trust in the Lord. Never stopping running to Him! Be blessed!

      Reply

  2. Loved your blog. I went back and read all the verses! I love the message version of Philippians. Its like I’m having a conversation with God! I like the idea of putting a verse in my checkbook, in my case perhaps I can ingrain it somehow on my debit card 🙂
    Stephanie Solberg OBS Facebook Group Leader

    Reply

    1. Stephanie,
      Thank you so much for stopping by! I have always loved Philippians 4, but came across the version in The Message last year around this time and it really opened my eyes. You’re right, it does seem more like a conversation with the big guy! Haha, I’m a debit card kinda gal too, so maybe we should just wrap the scripture around that! 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Carla! This book has been a real inspiration to me and has lead to some very interesting posts. I’ve enjoyed being a part of this study and the weekly blog hop! Thank you for stopping by.

      Reply

  4. We can become so accustomed to worry but as you’ve clearly told us God’s Word has a lot to say about the twins of worry and anxiety. Thanks for giving us the practical ways to combat worry.

    Reply

    1. Wanda,
      Thank you so much for your comment! You are so right, worry and anxiety go hand-in-hand, don’t they? They skip merrily on their way through our days making it difficult to walk the path we are called to, but we are so blessed to have someone who goes before us and stands behind, to provide us the opportunity to do so triumphantly!

      Reply

  5. Lovely to meet you Bree. Thanks for this inspiring post and linking up at Womanhood With Purpose. Your Post has been featured 😉
    Have a blessed weekend!

    Reply

    1. Angie,
      Thank you so much for featuring Breething! What a blessing and an honor! I am also thankful to know that you’ve been blessed by this message and pray that it will inspire others as well! Merry Christmas!

      Reply

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