By David Faust
I was surprised to hear a young father say, “I want my kids to be worriers.” Anxiety is widespread among teens today. Why would any dad want his kids to worry more?
But I misunderstood what he was saying. When I asked for clarification, the young man chuckled and explained, “No, I don’t want my kids to be worriers. I want them to be warriors who fight for their faith!”
Up in the Air
Jesus said, “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it” (Luke 12:29). In that verse, the Greek word translated “worry” is meteorizomai, a term used only once in the New Testament. Ancient astronomers observed that shooting stars appeared neither in outer space nor in the earth’s inner atmosphere. They were meteors, objects of midair. Worry leaves a person up in the air. Worriers are hung up, caught in the middle, fearful and uncertain about the future.
Christians aren’t immune to worry. G. Campbell Morgan pointed out that many pretend to be “free from fret and friction and feverishness,” but beneath the friendly smiles—and despite the joy we find by serving God—worry weighs us down. We are the fraternity of the fretful, the army of the anxious.
Paradoxically, Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious (Greek merimnao) about anything” (Philippians 4:6, New International Version), while admitting he faced the daily pressure of his “concern (merimna) for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). Even when you give your cares to God, the pressures of ministry can weigh you down.
What Worry Is (and What It Isn’t)
How can we distinguish between legitimate concern and sinful worry?
Burden-bearing isn’t worry. The love of Christ requires us to carry others’ burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Nervous tension isn’t worry. It’s natural to get butterflies in your stomach before speaking in public, or to feel amped up before an important meeting. Pressure can be a healthy stimulus, spurring us to be more productive.
Attention to detail isn’t worry. I want the words on the screen in our church’s worship services to be spelled correctly, not because I’m fussy, but because the pursuit of excellence honors God.
Planning isn’t worry. Thoughtful preparation actually reduces worry. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit” (Proverbs 21:5).
It’s not a sin to deal with day-to-day stress. When the Lord said, “Do not worry” (Matthew 6:25), he was talking about misplaced priorities and a lack of faith. Sinful worry is worldliness—preoccupation with clothes, food, “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:18). It leads to wastefulness, stewing over unsolvable problems we ought to entrust to God.
And sinful worry produces weakness. The word worry comes from the Old English wyrgan, “to strangle.” Worry strangles vision, chokes creativity, and drains enthusiasm. Henry Ward Beecher said, “Worry is rust upon the blade.” Worriers magnify small troubles into irrational fears, like the proverbial cowards who “flee though no one pursues” (Proverbs 28:1).
Help for the Worrier
How should we handle worry?
Prayer is vital. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Prayer isn’t spiritual escapism; it’s a divinely appointed alternative to worry. Prayer leads to greater contentment, stronger confrontation of problems, and deeper confidence in God. Jesus often prayed, but he never pouted.
Healthy habits matter. Exercise, rest, and diet affect our mental and emotional condition. Weariness leads to worriedness. When Elijah sprawled under a tree, exhausted and hungry, God gave him food, drink, and rest before sending him back into service (1 Kings 19:1-9).
Friends can help. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Wise Christian counselors and trustworthy friends provide a release valve for built-up tensions.
Consider this: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Let’s be warriors, not worriers. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
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