“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”
Isaiah 41:10 (The Message)
[Please note: This post is only about garden-variety worrying, not mental anxiety due to biological or other causes. See “Where Is God in Mental Illness” for the latter.]
What’s Worrying You Today?
- Will violence break out where I am or where my loved ones are?
- If our car breaks down again, how will we pay for it?
- Why does my daughter keep getting headaches?
- Will I ever find the right spouse/friend/church/____?
- What am I supposed to do with my life?
- Am I a lousy parent after what I said this morning?
And this classic one:
- Why can’t I stop worrying?
Unfortunately, many of us worry too much. I know I do. Despite that Jesus said don’t do it:
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?'”
Matthew 6:31 (NIV)
What’s Wrong with Worrying?
Worrying is painful. It steals our joy. It hurts those around us. It wastes our energy. It leads us to doubt God’s goodness.
So why do we worry? Perhaps because we think if we catch the bad thing in time, we can prevent it from happening. As if our worrying can stop it before it’s too late.
But of course our worrying does not solve problems. It just creates new ones. It divides our minds, births discontentment, and prevents us from thinking about things that would be beneficial.
The word “anxious” in the Greek, merimnao, comes from merizo, “to divide,” and nous, “the mind.”
Worrying = a divided mind
Worrying pulls us in many directions instead of keeping us focused and together.
3 Words to Quiet Worry
So what can we do about worrying? Self-discipline doesn’t work. Denying problems exists doesn’t work. Entertaining it away doesn’t work. Trying to control the circumstance or person doesn’t work.
Instead, the next time your mind is distracted with worry, try using these three words as you pray to silence your mind’s chatter.
1. Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus. Focus on Him (Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1). Call on His peace. Say and believe His words, not your own.
If you’ve been memorizing Matthew 6 with us the past few months, think about this: every minute you spent focusing on Jesus’s words was one minute you didn’t spend worrying about your own troubles. It’s not vain repetition to say over and over, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” It’s wise. He’s listening and answering, even if you’re unaware of how.
2. Here
Many of our worries come from things that might happen “over there,” not what’s actually happening “right here.” Draw your attention away from “what if” and instead accept “what is” actually happening, even if it’s hard stuff. Look for how God is working in it. Count the blessings you can see (Isaiah 12:4-5). Choose gratitude for what you find and let the peace of Christ displace the worrying (Colossians 3:15).
Use Philippians 4:8 as a guide to help you see what is right here to be grateful for. And to help you respond to what is right here instead of simply worrying about something somewhere else.
3. Now
Correct the time-shift problem: get out of the future and come back to the present. God has fresh supplies of grace for us every single day (Lamentations 3:23), but He only gives them to us one day at a time. In this day, open your hand to receive this day’s grace instead of reaching out for tomorrow’s grace, too. Now is the when of God’s presence.
Our beliefs that future outcomes will be bad is the root of much of our anxiety. But if we can return back to now, seeing that God is always with us in this very moment, we can better trust He’ll be equally faithful in the days to come. [Read A Daily Dose to Overcome Anxiety.]
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Matthew 6:34 (The Message)
Benefits of Jesus—Here—Now
Saying these three words to ourselves when we worry, “Jesus, Here, Now,” is not a magic mantra to stop our worrying. But it can be an exercise of intentional prayer to bring us back to this moment of grace and find hope again. We can think more clearly, more positively, and be more available to others.
God promises us a mind of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Not fear. Not confusion. Not worries.
I’m still learning how to accept this gift of peace in the moment. I’m not there yet. I’m still not totally comfortable with uncertainty.
But I continue to reach for contentment with today’s grace instead of worrying about its potential lack in the future. And I am making progress.
May we all encourage each other to accept God’s grace in the name of Jesus, in this here, right now.
Jesus. Here. Now.
Do you struggle with worry, too? Which word stands out most to you: Jesus, Here, or Now? Please share in the comments.
Related:
- A Daily Dose of This to Overcome Anxiety
- What Not to Say When Anxious – Matthew 6:31-32
- Enough Grace for Today – Matthew 6:33-34
Lisa, I seem to be following you around all over the blogging community today, which is a pleasant thing — and I’ll be carrying those three words with me today as I walk out the door! Thanks!
Glad to have you as my neighbor, Michele. I’ve already been saying these three words myself this morning as I woke up worrying about something. Lord, have mercy—I always need it.
Lisa, I love, love, love this. I’m always battling my mind and the worries swirling in it, so I love that you’ve wisely provided these three specific words–and the truth behind them–to replace the other thoughts in my mind. Worry has been part of my make-up all my life, but I am going to try this three-word plan and see if I can get some victory over it through them…and, of course, through THE Word. So glad I found you today at Thankful Thursdays!
Thanks, Elizabeth. Worrying seems to be in my genes, unfortunately, and I’ve battled it all my life too. But the Lord has given me some respite through focusing more on His grace in the NOW (I tend to wander off too much into the future) so that’s the message I share now. Praying the same for you!
Jesus, here, now. So easy to remember, Lisa. It is true that much of our worry deals with future outcomes we cannot POSSIBLY know for certain. Sticking with NOW would do my spirit lots of good. And you’re right. Just uttering the name of Jesus unleashes POWER.
Yes, reminding myself that Jesus is with us with all his strength in this very moment is a powerful encouragement for me to stay here, instead of projecting so far ahead like I’m apt to do.
I needed these three words this morning!
Good! :) Me, too, Elizabeth.
Hi Lisa, thank you for sharing the article about God and mental illness. I suffer from panic disorder and while the words you share here DO help, it’s a chemical imbalance. I know my mental illness draws me closer to Jesus every day. Prayer and believing Jesus will see me through my panic and give me the strength to get through each day. God bless you.
Thanks for sharing this, Debbie. I have many friends and family with chemical imbalances, too, and unless God brings supernatural healings (which I know He can do and has done!), these kinds of things can’t just be prayed away. But, yes, God does work through prayer to bring the strength needed in each day to stand up under it anyway. What a wonderful attitude you have to accept that mental illness can draw you closer to Jesus. Blessings to you, friend!
I read this this morning in bed on Feedly and loved it so much, Lisa 3 words with power to change my day. I am tucking this in my pocket. Thank you xo
Thank you for sharing this, Lyli. These words have really made a difference with my awareness of God’s care in THIS moment so I can loosen my grip a little on other moments still out in the distant.
Thanks, Lisa! Your words are so timely as we look at the events unfolding all around us, whether or near or far. As I move toward tomorrow and our granddaughter’s surgery in a month, I carry these truths in my heart!
Exactly, Pam. There is always something going on around us, things we can feel anxious about. But it’s nice to know we can cast our cares on Jesus and let Him carry the load of “later” for us. I’m still learning how to do that….
“Jesus Here Now” I love that! A strong reminder and a bold appeal – almost like a command. I have written it in my Little Book.
Reading this post on the way home I looked up and the bus had taken a wrong turning – was I on the wrong bus? Where would I end up? Your post was nice company :)
Ha. I hope you ended up at home after all last night. Glad these words were sitting with you as you turned. We never know where or in what circumstances our words will show up! :)
Yes Yes Yes
Jesus Here Now
I wondered what the three words were and I am glad I came to find out! Thanks for you mail, Lisa.
God Bless
You’re welcome, Ifeoma. I use these three words a lot myself to get back on track after I barrel down a highway of worry.
And this prayer, here … ‘thy will be done.’
What a release from having to figure it all out …
Oh, yes. Always a great addition to all our prayers! Thanks, Linda.
Short and simple words but really powerful.
God keeps on reminding us not to worry in the Bible. Worrying is not of the Lord’s. We need to fight it.
Thanks for this advice.
I so agree with you, Lux. God doesn’t want us to worry. May He continue to show us the way out of it and we encourage each other. Thanks!
Lisa, I love this! The power in Jesus is amazing. A simple and lovingly written encouragement.
Thanks for your encouraging words and for sharing this, Lori. Appreciate you!
Jesus Here Now. YES! Great post about something many of us suffer with ourselves or at least live with others who do! I also love Ann Voskamp’s quote: “The answer to anxiety is the adoration of Christ.” It answer really is found in Him, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing, Lisa… stopping by from Counting My Blessings :)
Ooh, love that Ann quote. Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Wonderful, wise and simple. And truly it all can be narrowed down to one – “Jesus”.
I agree, Joanne. Jesus encompasses all our “heres” and “nows.” I’m grateful!
Jesus
Yes, Kimberly. Jesus—He hears us every time.
I like the advice, Lisa. It takes wisdom to from God to find His peace, but as you point out, it’ about calling on Him, then relying on Him.
I think I’ve shared with you my take on this over the course of the last eight years or so. I always wondered why the Bible called us to “Fear God’ or “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
After much study I’ve come to realize that fearing or revering our circumstances more than we do our Father is disrespectful and is the cousin of idolatry.
Thanks for the reminder.
Helpful insights, Floyd. Thanks for sharing! We do have to remember that God is always bigger than any circumstance that life can throw at us. To believe otherwise is indeed a lack of honor for who God is.