Devotional
Has Worrying Ever Helped?
Let me ask you a direct question: Has worrying ever made your life better?
Has anxiety ever solved a problem? Has lying awake at 2 AM running scenarios ever added a single hour to your life?
Jesus asked the same thing. The implied answer is no. Of course not. Worrying doesn't fix anything. It just drains the energy you'd need to actually address the problem.
And yet we keep doing it.
I'm really good at this. World class, actually. I can take a small problem and examine it from 1,752 different angles. I'll call three friends. Text two more. Get everybody's take. Run the scenarios. And somehow, what started as something manageable on Monday becomes a full-blown crisis by Tuesday afternoon.
I created that crisis. The worrying manufactured it. The problem didn't get bigger. My head did.
Worry is a terrible problem-solving strategy. It masquerades as productivity. It feels like you're doing something about the situation. You're not. You're just spinning your wheels in the mud, digging yourself deeper, burning fuel, going nowhere.
Paul offers something different: prayer. Not as a last resort after you've exhausted your worrying. As the first response. Before you call the friend. Before you run the scenario. Before the 2 AM ceiling-staring session.
Lay it down. Make it known to God. And then, the peace that surpasses understanding shows up to guard your heart and mind.
The exchange rate is clear. Anxiety for peace. Worry for prayer.
It sounds too simple. But simple doesn't mean easy. Simple means you don't need a strategy. You need surrender.
Prayer Prompt: What's been keeping you up at night? Name it. Out loud if you can. Then hand it to God and stop picking it back up.
Justin Franich
Justin Franich is a former meth addict, Teen Challenge graduate, and pastor who has been clean since 2005. Today he's a husband, father, and Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Adult Teen Challenge. He hosts the Rebuilding Life After Addiction podcast and helps families across the U.S. navigate faith-based recovery options, compare programs, and rebuild life after addiction.
Read my story →If your family is dealing with addiction, we can help.
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