Worry Much?

It's that time of the year again. With finals and last tests lingering in the air, the spirit of Christmas becomes confused with the spirit of stress. Just walking past the PCL at 4:30 AM, I could just smell the overwhelming anxiety of studious future world-changing students. Walking by the PCL made me realize how many people are worrying, and how awesome it would be to have an outreach in the PCL at this time of the year. Imagine all the students in there who could use a break some way or another. Maybe a little piece of candy with a Bible verse on it, maybe a free cup of coffee or hot chocolate - I bet it would brighten at least one person’s stressful night. I can also imagine many people who need to be reminded of God’s grace and how the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, is available and waiting for them to reach for it. Hopefully, as you’re reading this, you can brainstorm ways to reach out to your friends around you who are stressing or worrying about tests. Maybe these little worries that you or your friends have about finals are turning into worries about the future. A quick search in Biblegateway.com will give you a bunch of good verses and reminders of God’s constant and never ending provision in our daily lives:

Matthew 6:25
[ Do Not Worry ] "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:29
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

Psalm 94:19
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Ecclesiastes 11:10
So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Ecclesiastes 2:22
What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?

So with these verses in mind, think of ways to bless those around you. It’s clear that God doesn’t want us to worry; instead God wants us to have peace in him and him alone...not in our grades, affirmation from friends, or even in security of our future. God wants us to see that He will provide for us, and his provision is greater than whatever we could ever experience in this life. So this holiday season, when you find yourself stressing and worrying over finals, remember to pray with PETITION about everything.

-sean