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DON’T WORRY! CALL A STEPHEN MINISTER!
In the midst of summer, my favorite uncle often worried that the air conditioner was broken when it wouldn’t come on in response to the rising heat in the house. Then, several minutes after the air conditioner was humming away, he began to worry about the cost of the electricity to run the air conditioner. “Uncle Dock, you worry too much”, I would say with child-like wisdom. He would laugh and say, “I know. That’s why God never let me have my own children.”
Is there anyone who doesn’t worry? Probably not, worrying seems to be a natural part of life. God has given us a mind that is a remarkable instrument, able to recall past events and to imagine possible future ones. Even though we are able to recognize that these events are not happening right now, sometimes, we just can’t seem to stop thinking about them and our thoughts actually affect the way we feel now. Our body reacts just as if the event were actually happening or about to happen.
Remember the time that your boss criticized you unjustly. Even though the event occurred in the past, you still feel the anger and frustration that you felt then. Your mind still tries to figure out what went wrong and how you could have fixed it. “If only…”
Then you begin to worry that you may lose your job in the future. “What if ….” No matter how unlikely it is that such an event would occur, you can actually make yourself depressed or anxious just thinking about it. We are told that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States and that these disorders can even make you more susceptible to physical illnesses.
Too much worry can distract and paralyze us, not allowing us to experience God’s presence and grace in our lives. In Philippians 4: 6-7, Paul tells us: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
Sometimes, I think I am the Queen of Worry. One of the ways I try to combat worrying too much is to talk to someone about my imaginary fears. Just saying them out loud helps me to remember that the event is either over and done with or that it probably will never occur. Praying has brought me much peace. Talking to close friends and relatives has also helped, and then I thank God for them.
Stephen Ministers are good listeners. If for some reason, you are experiencing days and nights of constant worry, please consider talking to a Stephen Minister. Stephen ministers are children of God who are willing to walk beside a hurting person, offering unconditional acceptance. They don’t criticize or offer advice. They listen and care. If you are experiencing any type of life situation where you could use a caring Christian friend or you know of someone who is, please contact Carolyn Benitez, Stephen Leader and Referrals Coordinator at 512-396-0595. All inquiries are confidential.
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