Do you ever find yourself caught up in worry?
Maybe you’re worrying about your kids. Or the country. Or your college class, your future life, what people think of you . . . the list could go on and on, couldn’t it?
We all have things to worry about. If you’re struggling with a worry today, here are a few questions that will help.
Note: These questions are from I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat).
How to Stop Worrying: 11 Questions
- What are you worried about? Be specific.
- What are the odds that your worry will take place?
- What do you hope will happen? Be specific.
- Why do you want that to happen?
- Do you think God wants that to happen? Why or why not?
- Are God’s priorities different than your priorities in this situation? If so, how are they different?
- Can you control or influence this situation? If so, what could you do?
- Yes: Do you think God wants you to do that? Why or why not?
- No: If not, have you accepted the fact that you can’t control it?
- Are you willing to trust God for a situation you can’t control?
- Is God worthy of your trust? Why or why not?
- What do you think God wants to do for you (and/or your loved ones) in this situation? (See the insecurity Bible verses and Romans 5:3-5 for ideas.)
- How can you love God and others best in this situation?
- Is there anything you need to accept?
- What can you thank God for in this situation?
Possible things you’ll need to accept: that the unthinkable will happen, that you’re not in control, that there’s often nothing you can do to prevent bad things from happening, and that you might not get what you want.
Possible things you’ll need to confess: making idols of people or things, trying to control things God doesn’t want you to control, and a lack of trust in God.
Other Posts on Worry: How to Stop Worrying and 20 Things to Be Thankful For When Life is Hard. Bible Verses About Worry.
Question: Are you a worrier? What do you do to stop worrying?
In the possible things you’ll need to accept response checklist, I found out that worry helped not a bit. The unthinkable *did* happen, I’m *not* ever in control (save when I’m behind the wheel of the car, and even then that’s not always a given :) ), there *was* nothing I could have done to prevent bad things from happening, and I did *not* get what I wanted.
I’m still here, despite the unthinkable happening. I’m not in control – God is. Beyond a reasonable amount of caution taken in living, time and chance happen to us all, and I get what I need, not always what I want.
Great stuff here, Barb!!
Love all your insights, Rick. You’ve been through the unthinkable so you can speak from experience. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I could see the wheels in your brain whirling and appreciated the analysis from the practical point of view of walking through a real life situation. Thanks!
Great tips! I’ve learned that praying and releasing my worry to God one of the best ways to stop worrying. Though at times it takes me a little while to remember this:)
ha, yes – wouldn’t it be nice to recognize that right at the beginning and go directly to God? I’ve been having lots of practice with this now that my kids are so old :) (My oldest is 26 and I have two in college and one still at home – a senior in high school.)
YA:)
Matthew Chapter 6:24-34 is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels. Jesus just deals head on with worry and he tells us that we can’t serve two masters, we shouldn’t worry about food and clothing and that God will take care of us. What a wonderful promise!
That’s a great passage, Caleb. I think worry often shows us what our idols are. It is wonderful to know that God will take care of us.
I think question 6 is the most powerful one for me. Remembering God’s sovereignty and God’s love allows me to relax more than anything.
That’s probably the most powerful one for me to, Loren, because that’s what it all boils down to. That and are you willing to accept whatever happens? If I’m not willing to accept the “unacceptable,” I won’t be able to get over my worry.
Would you allow me to reproduce these questions for a women’s worship night at my church? Our theme is Bravery and I’ve found this particular set of questions to be so helpful. I’d love to share it on a bookmark with the 80-100 ladies who come, with proper credit to you, of course.
Hi Jodi! Sorry I took so long to answer! I’ve been out of town for the last week and a half camping and hiking. Yes, you can definitely reproduce these questions for a women’s worship night at your church. Thank you for using them! You could also let them know that they’re available on the I Deserve a Donut app if they’d like to have them handy. It’s free on both iOS and Android.