Anxiety

I spend a lot of time, like today, worrying about what tomorrow will bring or what will happen if I make a decision.  I think it’s more than just worry. It’s an attack of obsessive “what if” questions that doesn’t seem to stop.  My father explained to me once that that is sin.  The bible says to not worry about anything.  In fact, there are sayings in several religions that talk about worry and anxiety.  But I look sometimes at scripture and then I look at the things that come up in life and I think “how in the world could I not be anxious?”  So I think of what people would have been anxious about in bible times.  And that’s even worse!  Especially the apostles and other followers that were persecuted and sometimes even put to death. 

Don’t be anxious?  Really?

Then I came across a Buddhist quote about how to live life.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” ― Gautama Buddha

It makes so much sense when it’s written out.  And then I thought, why didn’t the bible teach me this?  But it does.

Matthew 6:31-34 (AMP)

³⁴ So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

I think these two sayings are basically saying the same thing.  Live for today.  Do what you know to do today.  Tomorrow will come either way.

The bible even goes further and tells us what to do with our anxieties.

Philippians 4:6-7(NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I take this to mean that I should pray and do whatever rightful thing that I can do for a desired outcome.  I take the combined sayings and scripture to mean that, since a very wise person decided to speak about it, that anxiety is a common problem.  One that even Jesus himself suffered from.  

In the scriptures, it talks about Jesus going to pray on mount olive before his crucifixion.  

Luke 22:39-46

 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.[a]

 Its part of being human.  I shouldn't be down on myself or anyone else for having anxiety.  But I should realize that worrying will not change anything.  Just like the Dalai Lama said.

“If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.”