The Struggle of Worry
wor · ry
a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems
I'm currently sitting in a coffee shop, soaking wet after a photo shoot was interrupted by rain. As I began to edit photos, some self-reflection said "You've been worrying a lot you should write about it," so here we are.
Throughout my senior year, I have noticed that I've worried about my present circumstances and my future more than ever before. Many people do the same thing around this time, after all, this is a time of BIG decisions. My main problem was that my worry began to cause me to worry about my worry, which, caused me to worry even more. I came to the realization that this fear and anxiety was starting to consume me. It crept into every situation I placed myself in. What college am I going to go to? Am I going to be prepared once I get there? What if my friends don't like me anymore? How do I do better after a below-standard grade in a class my senior year? I'm even a little worried right now that this post is gonna be a flop. These and many other questions surrounded me, and I began to feel lost in the current.
Throughout my senior year, I have noticed that I've worried about my present circumstances and my future more than ever before. Many people do the same thing around this time, after all, this is a time of BIG decisions. My main problem was that my worry began to cause me to worry about my worry, which, caused me to worry even more. I came to the realization that this fear and anxiety was starting to consume me. It crept into every situation I placed myself in. What college am I going to go to? Am I going to be prepared once I get there? What if my friends don't like me anymore? How do I do better after a below-standard grade in a class my senior year? I'm even a little worried right now that this post is gonna be a flop. These and many other questions surrounded me, and I began to feel lost in the current.
A scripture I had studied before came to mind. If you aren't familiar with Philippians, it's a good one. Specifically, for this situation, Philippians 4:6,
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This hits home during an extremely worry-filled time. It just blows my mind that we have a God that loves us and cares for us enough that he listens and WANTS to listen to our struggles, worries, and fears. Verse 6 doesn't start by saying "try your very hardest not to worry," but rather God COMMANDS us not to be anxious, but rather in every situation, just give it to Him. No matter what we're going through, give God thanks for what He has done, and give our fears and doubts to God, so that the peace of God will guard us. I think that last part is a little confusing. It could be taken as though we pray to God and He takes away all of our worries, but actually, if we give prayer and thanksgiving to God, our problems don't just disappear, but rather, God walks with us through them. To have a God that will guide us through the highs and lows of life is so amazing because it's all apart of His plan for us. God is with us when we're on the mountain, but even when we feel alone and worry about our circumstances, God wants to walk through the waves with us, we just have to let Him. I've been attempting to just give it to God when worry begins to consume me, and everyone will struggle with that at some point. Heck, even Jesus struggled with anxiety in the garden. The point is, is that we have a Heavenly Father who wants to hear our struggles and go before us.
It might seem a little unorthodox to close with a song, but I think Chris Renzema puts it best with his song "I Don't Wanna Go," that not even crashing waves are too big for God, and neither are our fears and worries.