Worry: The Big Scary Shadow?

Do you remember seeing an old cartoon where the cat is after the mouse, when from around the corner a huge, monster mouse seems to be stalking the cat, but it's just the shadow of the little mouse?

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Worry gives a small thing a big shadow. Swedish Proverb

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Worry is just that. It's a big, hairy shadow stalking us. We cower in the corner awaiting the perceived dripping fangs to sink into our flesh and devour us.

Worry is never useful. It is destructive. It handicaps and diminishes us preventing clear thinking. As the mind begins to feed on its own natural reserves, our perspective is skewed or slanted and shadows play tricks on our mind.

The Bible asks this question: Which one of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life or an inch to your height? (Matthew 6:27)

My husband describes these worried imaginations as negative, mental pictures of the possible outcome of a circumstance. These imaginations are simply not real. And, worse yet, they are opposing ideas to God and His Word. There is no faith when worry is permitted to solidify into fear.

What should we do when worry begins to creep in?

1. Relax. Breathe.
2. Refrain from giving in to this crippling shadow-monster.
3. Recognize you're in a negative thought mode and retrace your steps back to the source of the thought asking, "Where did this start?"
4. Remind yourself of 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations and every thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and taking captive (arresting, disabling) every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Satan has been at his game for a long time and knows how to play it, but "...we are not ignorant of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11) to "...steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10a).

If worrying has become a habit, you must decide to be intentional about vaporizing the dependence on its company. We don't need to allow it to pull up a chair and stay awhile, anymore. Amen?

Share your thoughts.

~"Sam"