Is worrying a sin?

The worrying thing is that he doesn't need help getting into our thoughts. Nobody should teach us how to do it. Even when life is at its best, we can find a reason to worry. It comes naturally to us as our next breath. But what does the Bible say about worries? Is it really a shame? How should Christians deal with the fearful thoughts that arise in our minds? Is worrying a normal part of life or is it a sin that God asks us to avoid?

Worry has a way of insinuating itself

I remember how concern crept into one of the most idyllic days of my life. My husband and I stayed a few days during our week-long honeymoon stay in Jamaica. We were young, in love and in paradise. It was perfection.

We stopped for a while by the pool for a while, then we threw the towels on our shoulders and wandered in the bar and grill where we ordered everything that our hearts wanted for lunch. And what else was there to do after our meal if not go to the beach? We followed a tropical path to a smooth sandy beach, covered with hammocks, where a generous staff waited to satisfy our every need. Who could find a reason to fidget in such an enchanting paradise? My husband, that's who.

I remember he seemed a little off that day. He was distant and disconnected, so I asked him if something was wrong. He said that since we hadn't been able to reach his parents home earlier that day, he had the nagging feeling that something bad had happened and he wasn't aware of it. He could not enjoy the paradise around us because his head and heart were wrapped in the unknown.

We took a moment to slip into the club house and shoot his parents an email to cancel his fears. And that evening they replied, everything was fine. They had simply missed the call. Even in the midst of paradise, worry has a way of creeping into our minds and hearts.

What does the Bible say about concern?

Concern was a relevant topic in the Old and New Testaments as it is today. Inner anguish is not new and anxiety is not unique to today's culture. I hope you are reassured to know that the Bible has a lot to say about concern. If you have felt the overwhelming weight of your fear and doubts, you are certainly not alone and absolutely out of the reach of God.

Proverbs 12:25 says a truth that many of us have experienced: "Anxiety weighs down the heart." The words "weigh down" in this verse mean not only burdened, but weighed down to the point of being forced to lie on the ground, unable to move. Perhaps you too have felt the paralyzing hold of fear and worry.

The Bible also gives us hope for the way God works in those who care. Psalm 94:19 says: "When the worries of my heart are many, your consolations rejoice my soul." God brings hopeful encouragement to those who are consumed with worries and their hearts are made joyful again.

Jesus also spoke of the concern in the sermon on the mountain in Matthew 6: 31-32, "So don't be anxious, saying, 'What should we eat?' or "What should we drink?" or "What should we wear?" Because the Gentiles are looking for all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need all of them. "

Jesus says not to worry and then gives us a solid reason to worry less: your heavenly Father knows what you need and if he knows your needs, he will surely take care of you just as he takes care of all creation.

Philippians 4: 6 also gives us a formula on how to deal with concern when it arises. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving make known your requests to God."

The Bible makes clear that concern will happen, but we can choose how we respond to it. We can channel the inner turmoil that concern brings and choose to be motivated to present our needs to God.

And then the next verse, Philippians 4: 7 tells us what will happen after we present our requests to God. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

It seems that the Bible agrees that concern is a difficult problem, while at the same time telling us not to worry. Is the Bible commanding us never to be afraid or anxious? What if we feel anxious? Are we breaking a Bible command? Does that mean it's a shame to worry?

Is it a pity to worry?

The answer is yes and no. Concern exists on a scale. On one side of the ladder, there are the fleeting thoughts of "I forgot to take out the trash?" And "how will I survive in the morning if we are without coffee?" Small worries, small worries - I don't see any sin here. But on the other side of the scale we see bigger concerns that arise from deep and intense thought cycles.

On this side you may find a constant fear that the danger is always lurking just around the corner. You may also find a consuming fear of all the unknowns of the future or even an overactive imagination that always dreams of the ways in which your relationships can end in abandonment and rejection.

Somewhere along that ladder, fear and worry go from small to sinful. Where exactly is that sign? I believe it is where fear moves God as the center of your heart and mind.

Honestly, it is also difficult for me to write that sentence because I know that personally, my worries become my daily, hourly, even meticulously few days focus. I tried to find a way around the concern, I tried to justify it in every way imaginable. But I can not. It is simply true that worry can easily become sinful.

How do we know it's a shame to worry?

I realize that calling one of the most common emotions that humans feel sinful has a lot of weight. So, let's analyze it a little. How exactly do we know that worry is a sin? We must first define what makes something sinful. In the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures, the word sin was never used directly. Instead, there are as many as fifty terms that describe the many facets of what modern Bible translations call sin.

The Gospel Dictionary of Biblical Theology does a fantastic job of summarizing all the original terms for sin in this description: “The Bible generally describes sin negatively. It is the law less ness, dis obedience, im piety, a creed, dis confidence, darkness in contrast with light, apostasy as opposed to standing still, weakness not strength. It is a justice, faithl ess ness “.

If we hold our concerns in this light and start evaluating them, it becomes clear that fears can be sinful. Can you see it?

What will they think if I don't go to the movie with them? It's just a little naked. I'm strong, I'll be fine.

Concern that prevents us from obediently following God and his word is sin.

I know that God says he will continue to work in my life until he has finished the good work he has started (Philippians 1: 6) but I have made many mistakes. How could he ever solve this?

Concern that leads us to unbelief in God and his word is sin.

There is no hope for the desperate situation in my life. I have tried everything and still my problems remain. I don't think things can ever change.

The concern that leads to distrust in God is sin.

Concerns are such a common occurrence in our minds that it can be difficult to know when they are present and when they pass from innocent thought to sin. Let the definition of sin above be a checklist for you. What concern is currently at the forefront of your mind? Is it causing distrust, disbelief, disobedience, vanish, injustice or lack of faith in you? If it is, it is likely that your concern has become a sin and needs a face-to-face meeting with the Savior. We will talk about it in a moment, but there is great hope when your fear meets the gaze of Jesus!

Concern vs. anxiety

Sometimes the worry becomes more than just thoughts and feelings. He can begin to control every aspect of life physically, mentally and emotionally. When the concern becomes chronic and controlling it can be classified as anxiety. Some people have anxiety disorders that need treatment by qualified medical professionals. For these people, hearing that worry is a sin will probably not be helpful at all. The path to freedom from anxiety when an anxiety disorder is diagnosed can include medications, therapy, coping strategies, and a number of other treatments prescribed by a doctor.

However, biblical truth also plays a vital role in helping someone overcome an anxiety disorder. It is a piece of the puzzle that will help bring clarity, order and above all compassion to the wounded soul that struggles with paralyzing anxiety every day.

How can we stop worrying about sin?

Freeing the mind and heart from sinful worry will not happen overnight. Abandoning fears to the sovereignty of God is not one. It is an ongoing conversation with God through prayer and his word. And the conversation begins with the willingness to admit that in some areas, you have allowed your fear of the past, present or future to overcome your loyalty and obedience to God.

Psalm 139: 23-24 says: “Seek me, O God, and know my heart; test me and get to know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and guide me along the path of eternal life. "If you're not sure how to start the path to freedom from worries, start by praying these words. Ask God to sift through every corner and crevice of your heart and give him permission to bring back rebellious thoughts of concern on his life path.

And then keep talking. Don't drag your fears under a carpet in an embarrassed attempt to hide them. Instead, drag them into the light and do exactly what Philippians 4: 6 tells you, make your requests known to God so that his peace (not your wisdom) can protect your heart and mind. There have been numerous times when my heart's concerns are so many that the only way I know of finding relief is to list each one and then pray the list one by one.

And let me leave you alone with this last thought: Jesus has great compassion for your concern, your anxiety and your fears. He doesn't have a balance in his hands that weighs on the one hand the times you trusted him and on the other the times you chose to trust him. He knew that worry would plague you. He knew it would make you sin against him. And he took that sin upon himself once and for all. Concern may persist but his sacrifice has covered everything (Hebrews 9:26).

Therefore, we have access to all the help we need for all the concerns that arise. God will continue to have this conversation with us about our concerns until the day we die. He will forgive every time! Concern may persist, but God's forgiveness persists even more.