Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Coronavirus is wreaking havoc across the world. To avoid the spread of the virus cities are closing venues, events are canceled, and European travel is banned. To make matters worse, the stock market had its worst day since 1987 and has plummeted over the last month. Toilet paper may be the most valuable currency in the world at this point.
All of the bans and restrictions are for the right reasons. Our country and the world are following the best advice from health experts. Even though leaders and decision makers are acting rationally, there is an insane amount of worry and anxiety in the world. I look online and see countless people freaking about the worst-case scenario and stocking up on enough food to last for 2 years. Stocking up on food isn’t the worst idea, but you don’t need to take enough paper towels to dry up a lake.
Worry goes beyond the epidemic facing us today. Every day we stress about what is to come. We worry about the big tasks we need to take on in the day, the big interview coming up, or family problems. We know you are soooo busy and don’t have time to make it to everything on your schedule, but sometimes it sounds like people’s complaining is bigger than what they are complaining about.
Is the problem or issue causing you stress, or is it your worry about the problem? Are you so worried about a problem, that your worry becomes much more of a mountain than the actual problem in front of you?
“For many of you, your biggest problem is not your problems, it’s your anxiety about your problems. Our anxiety is our biggest impediment to fulfilling our God-given destiny. That is the enemy’s greatest strategy.” -Ben Stuart
Anxiety can be a very serious condition that I don’t want to ignore, but we can all limit worry in our lives. What if we looked forward to adversity? What if we invited challenges instead of running from them? I would love to wake up in the morning, stare down my problems for the day, and tell them to bring it on.
How awesome would your life be if you didn’t worry about anything? That doesn’t mean you don’t prepare, but instead you don’t stress about the end result. We would be free to be ourselves and go after things we want to achieve. What if we trust God with the end result?
Where do you go when you are stressed and anxious? Do you go straight to your phone to distract yourself, eat food, run through a thousand scenarios in your head, or freak out to your friends? Imagine how you would feel if you meditate or pray when you are stressed. I know that I’m not good about doing those when I’m anxious.
Don’t let fear of not being good enough scare you. Don’t let the fear of falling short scare you. You have greatness inside of you to take on anything facing you in your life. Don’t let your worries be larger than your problems.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6
I appreciate you.
-JP