Why Worry?

I was a professional worrier. I worried about anything you could think of.

I worried about school. I worried about my health. I worried about my friends and friendships. I worried about my finances; which is ridiculous given that I still live with my parents.

When I was younger, I would worry about getting a coca-cola shape. And when I was about 12 I worried about when I’d get my period. Suffice it to say that I’m not loving the whole period thing right now.

I’m sure I’m not the only person who has ever worried about these things. Guess what? These are all valid reasons to worry. Yes! Even the body shape. After all, the body is the first thing a person sees. And there’s such a thing as beauty privilege.

When I was in boarding school, I used to worry about my parents back at home. It was my way of knowing that I loved them. If I didn’t love them I wouldn’t care.

We basically equate worrying to caring. If I care about my academic performance then I must worry. I must worry to show that I care about making it to the airport in time for my flight. I must worry about my finances to show that I’m ready to do “rich dad, poor dad” moves.

In Mark 4: 35-38 we see the story of when Jesus calmed the storm. He had been asleep in the boat even as the storm was raging. When his disciples came to him this is what they said “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?” Because they were worried and Jesus wasn’t, they thought he didn’t care.

The thing is, worrying is not the same as caring. I can care about something and not worry about it. How? I can care about a person by praying for them and supporting them. I can care about school by studying and praying. I can care about my spiritual life by trusting God and praying.

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Worrying really doesn’t solve the problem. It won’t get you to the airport any faster. It won’t suddenly get rid of all the pimples on your face.

The only thing worrying does is give you ulcer and migraines. You develop even more pimples and you gain unnecessary weight. But please don’t worry that you’re worrying too much.

Rather, make plans and take actions. If you’re worried because your face reminds you of terrazzo, start using black soaps and treatments. If you want to make it to the airport on time start planning and getting ready early. If you want to do better in school, cut down the Netflix and get to the library. Command the uncertainties around you like Jesus commanded the storm. But above all things, take everything to God in prayer!