Embracing Concern, Rejecting Worry

Overflow with Craig Booker

Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Louie Giglio's book. Each week, I take concepts from Winning the War on Worry and apply them to brain health.

Louie opens by telling a story about how his wife Shelly is an A-Z person while he is an A-B type personality.

He deeply loves and appreciates his wife.

But both personality types are susceptible to worry.

“We learned in the previous chapter about the anatomy of worry and how the different themes of worry are connected by the same thread: control. And while we determined that our ability to control our lives is an illusion, we still need to address the question of how we can reject control and fear while still accounting for planning, preparation, and concern.” [1]

“God calls you to steward what you have in your hands.

He gives you decision-making authority over what He has entrusted to you.” [1]

“Matthew 25 – Jesus tells the parable about a master who goes away for an extended period of time. This master entrusts a considerable amount of money to his three servants.” [1]

1st Servant – 5 talents or 100 years’ worth of wages.

2nd Servant – 2 talents

3rd Servant – 1 talent

“He gave talents according to their ability.” [1]

Learning to Plan Without Practicing Worry

“Planning: Planning is a constructive and tangible process where steps and actions are linked together for future outcomes.” [1]

“While planning, contingencies are always in place for unexpected events or delays. But these contingency plans do not impede our ability to move toward the next step with confidence.” [1]

“In other words, planning is about leveraging your gifts and resources around what is in your hand at this moment, and moving it forward, step by step.” [1]

“If planning is a constructive and tangible process, worry is the projection of an endless string of what-if scenarios that absorbs all present effort (what you could be doing with what is currently in your hands). This string of what ifs often brings fear and paralysis that keeps us from our next steps.” [1]

“Planning focuses on the present and on what is in your hands, while occasionally looking ahead to factor in what is to come. Worry fixates on the future, while occasionally circling back to “work” on what is currently in front of you.” [1]

“The third servant in the story of the talents got paralyzed by the what ifs.” [1]

What if I lose the money?

What if I’m not capable?

What if the other servants outearn me?

What if I get sick or injured?

What if something big happens to all the livestock in my town and I’m caught up in financial ruin?

What if I fail?

What if I lose my job?

My family?

My home?

“Scripture actually says he was “afraid” (Matthew 25:25).

Isn’t it interesting that the result of getting caught in the web of what ifs is fear? Remember how I mentioned that worry is rooted in fear? In this parable we see Jesus showing

us that connection.” [1]

“While the first two servants were concerned and practiced good planning, this servant got stuck in a stream of worry. And once he got into the stream, he eventually got stuck in the whirlpool of self-doubt.” [1]

“Like we covered earlier, every so often when you’re building a plan, you need to look ahead. But you can’t live there. You can’t fixate so much on the ideas of tomorrow that you cease living in the realities of today.” [1]

“According to Psychology Today, in a small study done at Penn State University, scientists and doctors set out to expose a group of volunteers to as many possible stress-points as was feasible in a ten-day window. Then they observed if those stress-points, or what ifs, actually came to pass.

After thirty days of observation, the team conducting the study noted that 91 percent of worries did not materialize. Yes, 91 percent!?” [1]

“…what’s most important is what is in our hands right now-what we are tangibly carrying.” [1]

Practical Steps To Plan Well [1]

“how can you plan without tipping over into worry?” [1]

Here are a few steps.

• Do what is in your hands to do today. Colossians 3:23
• Don’t pick up any not-yet-realized challenges until necessary. Matthew 6:34
• Recognize that the Master is returning and stay prepared. Luke 12:42-43

“Planning well and steering clear from worry means that we embrace the mentality of I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.” [1]

“What if what’s in my hands is too much for me to carry?” [1]

“In Matthew 25:15 Jesus said, “To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability” (NKJV).

“God puts things into your hands according to your ability and His power to work in and through you. If Hes entrusted it to you, you can carry it.” [1]

Discussion:1

1. What has God placed in your hands today? Take some time to thank God for what He has graciously given to you.
2. Identify a time in your life when your planning turned into worry. Looking back, was there a tipping point you can recognize now?
3. Read James 4:13-17. How can you cultivate a spirit of “if it is the Lord’s will” (v. 15)?
4. If you were to stop overthinking your plans, what would that free you up to do more of today?

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Sources:

[1] Giglio, L. (2022). Winning the War On Worry – Cultivate a Peaceful Heart and a Confident Mind. Thomas Nelson.