Brave Part 3 – Dealing with Worry

WARM-UP

Why do we worry? What do we worry about? Why do we need to get rid of worrying? & How do we deal with worrying

ONE BIG IDEA

Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.

STUDY (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)

25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

LEARN

Worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. To worry is have a troubled mind. So, what dowe worry? When surveyed, the top four things people said they worried about were relationships, work, finances & health.

Statistics show that:

40% of all things that we worry about never come to pass

30% of all our worries involve past decisions that cannot be changed (so why worry?)

12% focus on criticism from others who spoke because they felt inferior.

10% are related to our health. Which gets worse when we worry.

8% of our worries could be described as “legitimate” causes for concern.

THREE REASONS WHY WE WORRY:

1. We don’t know the future
2. We can’t solve all our problems
3. We can’t be everywhere at once

THE PROBLEM OF WORRY

God recognizes that worrying is a problem and he wants us to be worry free.  Ecclesiastes11:10 says, “So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body (NIV). Why do we need to get rid of worrying?

1. Worry robs us of our joy

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV). God wants to fill you with his joy and peace as you trust in him, but worry robs you of your joy.

2. Worry makes us unfruitful

Jesus told the parable about the seed that was sown among the thorns which grew up and choked the plants. Later when his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable, he said in (Matthew 13:22 NIV).God wants to use you to serve him and other people, that’s why He blessed with you with so much talents, wisdom and wealth but worry can get a stranglehold on your life and make you unfruitful for the kingdom of God. We may have everything in this world but we are unfruitful for His kingdom. Material things do not eliminate worry and anxiety; they heighten them. The biggest lies we can think begins with: “If I could just get married, If I just had a car, If I could just send my kids to that school.” There is no lasting happiness in earthly treasures.  Happiness only comes in Jesus . (Matthew 6:21 NIV)

3. Worry doesn’t accomplish anything (Psalm 127:2 NIV).

It’s the picture of the person who is so worried about the basics of life that he spends his whole day working and his whole night worrying. Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Jesus said in Matthew 6:27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”  The answer is, “No one!” Why? Because worrying doesn’t accomplish anything.

4. Worry shows a lack of trust in God

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” You can’t trust God and worry at the same time. The two are mutually exclusive. And this is where we discover that worry is not simply a problem in our lives but can actually be a sin. Worry indicates a lack of faith, and as Romans 14:23.

DEALING WITH WORRY

1. Know that you have a heavenly Father (Matthew 6:26 NIV)

God is your heavenly Father who loves you and takes care of you.

He takes care of the birds of the air. Are you not much more valuable than they? If our children know how much we love them as their biological and earthly father, how much more the love from our Father above?

2. Trust in God (Psalm 139:16; John 14:1,27; 1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Trusting God also means trusting God’s sovereignty, trusting that God is in control, especially when life gets hard. That’s when you need to remember. God is in control, and we need to trust him with our circumstances. Remember, the reason you worry is because you are finite. But God is infinite. Trust him.

3. Learn to live in the present (Matthew 6:33-34 NIV)

When you seek God’s kingdom first, God promises to take care of everything else. You don’t need to worry about tomorrow. Live one day at a time.  The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to fulfill the duties of today.

4. Pray about it (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

That’s a pretty good trade. You give God your requests, and he will give you his peace. Prayer makes all the difference.

5. 5. Fill your mind with good thoughts (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Instead of filling your mind with anxious thoughts about all sorts of things that probably won’t even happen, read the Bible, listen to good Christian music, fill your mind with good thoughts.

6. Grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

Only as the Holy Spirit changes your character from within will you finally have victory over the sin of worry. The fruit of joy and peace are especially applicable here.” (Proverbs 17:22: Psalm 94:19 NIV)

GROW:

Application Questions:

1. What are you worried about right now?
2. How do you overcome your worries? Who do you run to or what helps you in times of anxiety? (Call a friend, talk to your pastor, go to a life group, listen to worship songs, sermon)
3. Which part of the sermon impacted you the most? How do you resolve now to eliminate worrying?