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MESSAGE NOTES:
Tonight as we continue our series on emotions, let’s look at one that’s very prevalent today, which is worry. If you were to ask me two years ago, when we first started hearing of a virus, most people would have shown little to no concern… That virus later became a pandemic and spread worldwide. Little to no concern became worry and for many anxiety, stress, depression, and extreme fear, which are the dangerous cousins of worry… Now fast forward two years later to the present and we’re dealing with the aftermath of this pandemic…, not to mention the political divide that has caused, I’m sad to say a divide in the Christian community… I’m concerned and so should you about where we are today, but before we allow this concern to slip into worry, anxiety, stress, depression, and extreme fear, let’s see what the Bible has to say about these damaging emotions that can cause harm to our mental well-being…

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It’s been said that worry is like an invading fog… You take a fog that’s 100 feet high and covers 10 square blocks…; only to find that the moisture in that fog is equal to an 8 ounce glass… the power of that 8 ounce glass of moisture can change your perspective and move you from concern… to worry, anxiety, and extreme fear. Worry has been called the thinking part of anxiety…

Before we move on to our scripture text and ways to win over worry and fear, let’s see a working definition for worry and anxiety:

a) Worry is giving way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or trouble; a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems; a source of anxiety.

b) Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome; a desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease; a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks.

Note: where you find anxiety, worry usually has a part. But not necessarily the opposite…

I share this difference of the two, although they have similar characteristics because some forms of anxiety require more attention than what will be covered tonight…

Our scripture text: Matthew 6:25-31, 33 (NKJV). These verses teach us about (1) having a proper perspective on life… (v 25), (2) having trust in God and His valuation of you… (v 26), (3) God’s example of providing for creation, with the intent of His surety in providing for us… (vs 28, 29, 30), and (4) warning signs of little faith, and a preoccupation with life’s necessities… (vs 30, 31), ref. Matthew 13:22 (MSG) 22 The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it… This is Satan's most subversive tactic of all. These people hear and accept the word and allow it to take root in their hearts, giving hope of a harvest. But thorns grow up and choke out the growing seed. Thorns rob nutrition, water, light, and space from newly sprouting seeds. Distractions and conflicts rob new believers of time to reflect on and digest God's Word to grow from it, as well as robbing them of guidance and support from interaction with other Christians. Jesus described the "thorns": cares of the world and lure of wealth.

Worldly worries, the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for material things plagued first-century disciples as they do us today. Daily routines overcrowd and materialistic pursuits distract believers, choking out God's Word so that it yields nothing.

· Ways to win over worry and fear…

a) Be honest about when your worry started…

b) Work hard at shifting any worry to a concern…

c) Work on a solution for the concern…

d) Understand and prepare for life transitions…

e) And learn to cast all of your cares upon Him…

1 Peter 5:7 (TLB) 7 Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.