Has anyone ever called you a worrywart? If you tend to overthink things by taking them to extremes or majoring on the minors, you are probably prone to worry wart-itis. The “wart” usually starts with a tiny seed of doubt or fear about something. Just as you are about to drift off to sleep, for instance, you hear a drip, drip, drip in the bathroom and discover a very small crack in the ceiling, with a very slow leak of water coming through. Back to bed you go, but sleep escapes you…
That leak in the bathroom ceiling can only lead to saturation of the sheetrock, structural damage, and most certainly a cave-in by morning. Where will I live when the walls fall in and my house is condemned for mold? I don’t even have a tent to pitch under a bridge tonight! No one will even answer my cries for help at this hour of the night—in fact, the neighbor may call 911 and report a home invasion if I step on their lawn and set off the security system! I’m a law-abiding citizen! I’d never invade a home! Who would I call from prison at this hour of the night when they read me my rights and allow me one call? When I’m released, can I come back to my property and rebuild it? When my house caves in, what will happen to my cat?
Of course, this is an extreme and ridiculous example, but vain imaginings can get our heart palpitating, our blood pressure rising, and our stomach acid fomenting. An endless barrage of negative, hopeless thoughts parading through our minds can get waaaaaaay out of control. My anxious thoughts are my worst enemy!!
Have your anxious thoughts escalated and taken you to a fearsome place? The Word of God gives us a three-part solution:
1. Take your anxious thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB).
2. Resist the devil who is attacking your mind. So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7 NLT).
3. Let the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit, console you. Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever” (John 14:16 Amplified). Proclaim out loud, when my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations (Hebrew “comforts”) delight my soul (Psalm 94:19 NASB).
The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, is the One who comes along beside us to help us. How very comforting! Come, Holy Spirit! Come, O Paraclete, and help me to be anxious for no-thing! (Philippians 4:6 NASB).
© 2021, Chris Werre