Worry and stress

Worrying and being stressed out seems “par for the course” of 21st century North American living.  We’re so busy, running ragged from one appointment to another, worried about missing something and feeling stress because we don’t know how to handle everything we’ve put on our plates.  Yet we don’t change our personal habits to reduce busy-ness, worry, and stress.  Perhaps deep down these feelings fool us into thinking that we’re important.

Francis Chan’s comments on worry and stress in his book Crazy Love prompt me to re-evaluate how well I’m obeying the apostle Paul’s commands to not be anxious but to rejoice instead…
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Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.  Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviours communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.  Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. (p. 42)
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