Worry by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1905

Worry

By G. B. THOMPSON

The world is full of worry. Its marks are chiseled in the furrowed brows of millions. Did you ever worry? “O yes,” I hear you say, “many, many times.” A good soul said to me once, “This terrible burden of worry is killing me; I fret nearly all the time.”

How sad this is! yet it is the experience of many. But, reader, let me ask you a question: Did it ever do you any good to worry? After you have tossed feverishly on your bed through the weary hours of the night, giving no sleep to your eyelids, did it help the matter any? Was the difficulty removed? or did you have to face the thing again at the dawn of day? Was the cause of worry in any way changed from what it would have been had you laid off your burden, and taken a refreshing sleep during the night? Why worry, then, if it does not help matters any? While it does no good, it does do untold injury, mentally, morally, and physically.

“O,” but you say, “I can’t help it. I try not to worry, but it is impossible for me to keep from it.” This is a strange confession for a Christian to be compelled to make. Suppose you hear your neighbor swear, and you ask him to refrain from taking his Master’s name in vain. He replies, “O, I can’t help it; I do not want to blaspheme, but it is impossible for me to keep from it.”

“But,” you say, “do you think it is as wicked to worry as to swear?”—No; but both are wrong. And the abiding Christ who enables the unregenerate man to overcome his profanity, will enable you to rest in him, and cease your unbelieving worry; for it is a burden born of unbelief.

“But,” says one, “I did not know it was wicked to worry.” Well, it is. The Lord did not worry when on earth. He sat up whole nights to pray, but never to fret. And here I am reminded that if we prayed more, we should worry less. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isa. 57:20, 21. The wicked are in a continual state of ferment, and can not rest; they are like the troubled sea. Why should the child of God be like the children of the wicked one?

How can you cease to worry?—Believe the Lord. Lay off the load upon him. “All your anxiety throwing upon him, because he is concerned about you.” 1 Peter 5:7, Rotherham’s Translation. The Lord is the great Shepherd of the sheep. It is his work, and joy as well, to care for the sheep. He understands how to do this, and is able to do whatsoever he pleases. He knows fully the prowess of him who goes about as a roaring lion, and has pledged his life to guard his flock from his ravages. Can you not let him do it? Like the high priest who carried on his bosom the breastplate, he has you on his heart. He cares for you. He carries in his hands, feet, and side, wounds received in working out your deliverance. He is a Father; you are his child, and he loves you. How would a parent feel to see one of his children worrying all day, and tossing sleeplessly on his couch through the night, for fear father would not supply all his needs, and guard his precious life from the cruel things of sin in the world around him? Yet many treat their kind, compassionate Heavenly Father like this. Why do it longer?

“I will hear what the Lord will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints.” His word received into the heart brings peace; the stormy passions subside, and the anxious fears are dispelled. He spoke once to the tempestuous Sea of Galilee, and there was “a great calm.” “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30. There is rest in Christ. What needless burdens we carry because we do not trust him! We need to lay, by faith, our anxiety upon him, and take, in return, the rest which he alone can impart.

G. B. THOMPSON.