Fear How Bad It Is

In the community I lived in there was a very wealthy man. Selfmade he was. He came up from the ranks of being a machinist and cook. He learned the value of money and he learned to be very good at. So good that he was one of the wealthier businessmen and real estate owners in the community. He made wise decisions with money. He made wise decisions with people.  He gave, he honored and he did it well.

Soon after a family member died he began to make healthy decisions. I watched him quit smoking, start walking and eat healthier. His outlook on life was positive and good.

And then one day the fear of getting older, of dying, and of all sorts of things crept in. Overnight he liquidated his holdings, changed friends and started to get weird. I would watch him just sit in a chair doing nothing.

Today as I watched some people go through fear, I thought how powerful a stronghold it is. (Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking toward those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:26)

The Wisdom of the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying “If there is a solution to a problem, there is no need to worry. And if there is no solution, there is no need to worry.” His message is to focus on the solution and not the problem. However, when wrongs can’t be righted or circumstances can’t be controlled, one must accept the things they cannot change.

What about worry?

Have you ever worried so much about things going wrong that you begin to worry when everything goes right?  Worry probably does more than anything else to keep us from having peace of mind.

Psychologists (with nothing better to do) have come up with some statistics about our worries.  A study done by Dr. Walter Calvert, funded by the National Science Foundation, revealed some startling statistics about human beings and worry. Here’s what he found:

• 30% of our worries are about events in the past
• 40% of the things we worry about never happen
• 12% of our worries are unfounded health concerns
• 10% of our worries are over minor and trivial issues
• Only 8% of our worries are real, legitimate issues

That means that over 80% of our worries are about things which are unimportant, or that we have absolutely no control over.

So, what have you been worrying about lately?

“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.  And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:6-7, NCV)

Worrying bogs you down and can make you second guess yourself. Your worry focus can even lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

Stop worrying about the 92 percent of things you can’t control. Since you have no control over its outcome, why waste time worrying about it?

Worrying only add to your fears and prevents you from focusing on handling the things you can control.

Fear is driving a lot of people over the edge. As a believer we do not have to walk in fear. (I understand fear. Over the last year I walked through one of my most difficult.) The scriptures tell us to “be anxious for nothing.” Do not let fear get a hold on you. Fear is not a merciful hostage taker. It not only asks for a ransom but may leave no victim alive. If fear is beating on your door, it is time to remember where you are seated, who is within and how to walk in faith. And shut the door.