What to Do About Worry
Written by Judith Willetts, Ph.D. and published on 21-May-2009.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
This verse follows the New Testament passage in which Paul tells the people from the town of Philippi that they should "not be anxious for anything, but in everything, but prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The people of Philippi were most likely worried about Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. As he tells them not to worry, he also gives them something to do in place of worry. Because his words are the divinely inspired Word of God, they transcend the ages. Thus, any anxious thoughts should become cues for the following:
Thank God for good things. Distract yourself from the anxiety by listing all the good things within your sight, e.g., nature or material possessions. Then move on to thank Him for all the good people in your life. Finally, thank Him for His presence.
Ask God for help. Ask Him to calm your anxious feelings. Then ask Him to intervene directly in the situation causing the worry. Finally, ask Him to show you the coping skills necessary to deal with the anxiety (e.g. physical relaxation, turning to a supportive person).
Consciously put your thoughts on the good. This can include meditating on Scripture, reliving positive memories, or focusing on the current good. Of course, the anxious thoughts will intrude again. When they do, challenge them by asking questions such as the following:
- What is the evidence?
- Is there anything that contradicts this?
- What is another way to think about this?
- What skills do I have to deal with this?
Remember God’s promise. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:7)
