For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Sure, we’ve all heard the Bible verse and sang the words at Mass, but how often can we say that we live our lives according to this principal? Like many other people, I claim to have faith and believe that God can do miracles…until one of my family members gets a serious illness or I don’t know how I’ll pay the monthly bills. Sadly, when these events occur my faith sometimes goes “out the window” and I do something completely useless…panic!
As the author of A Worrier’s Guide To The Bible (50 Verses To Ease Anxieties), you’d probably think that I’m someone who has never worried or who has declared victory over anxiety. Not even close! I have been a worrier all of my life and I STILL fight the battle every day. Most times that a crisis pops up in my life, my first instinct is to worry. The good news is that my second instinct is to pray! The even better news is that, at this point in my life, sometimes my FIRST reaction is to pray. Although I still have a long way to go, that is a BIG improvement for me!
So how does one go from worrier to (prayer) warrior? Quite simply, my friends, it’s all about faith. If your faith is strong enough, you’ll walk by that faith and not by sight. Your eyes will be so focused on the Lord and His promises that you won’t even see the waves crashing around you. Since faith is a supernatural gift, however, we can’t just increase it on our own. Therefore, we have to turn to God and ask for help. When dealing with a “storm” in your life, crying out, “Lord, please increase my faith!” is an extremely powerful prayer and is a lot more effective than worrying!
In addition to allowing us to pray to Him when we’re anxious, the Lord also wants to speak directly to us. One of the best ways to hear Him is by opening up the Bible. When I was writing my book, I created a spreadsheet with Bible verses that could be used to combat anxiety. I would often sit in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament reading and re-reading these verses. Although my primary goal was to decide which verses should be included in the book, I received an unexpected blessing…I began to feel peace, even in the midst of my problems!
Here’s a verse to get you started. If you’re worried about something, open up your Bible and read (and re-read) this verse. While there’s no guarantee that your problems will disappear, you will eventually feel a peace that is not of this world. If you don’t feel peaceful right away, keep reading. Jesus is extending His hand and is speaking these words directly to you…
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Thanks for your timely article, I needed your thought process and I’m sure it will work for me.
Thanks,
Kent
My pleasure, Kent. Glad I could help!
I can confirm and verify everything that you stated in this article. Four years ago I was loosing my home and my business of 30 years. I prayed both day and night. I began getting up at 4:00 am and doing daily devotions. I began attending mass each morning. I did lose my home (I got it into an escrow 1 week beforebank forclosure) but I actually made a small profit. I leased a home closer to work and now I don’t spend 2 hours a day on the freeway commuting. My commercial landlords wanted to raise the rent on my business location by $1,000 a month in the height of the recession. I was already paying $4,200 a month and the building was falling apart around me. The gas line from the street broke so I had no heat and the plumbing was a mess. One day as I was trying to keep warm from a space heater near my desk, my landlords who had a business upstairs flushed their toilet and raw sewage ran down my walls, covering my corner samples. When I informed them of the situation, the handed me a mop and bucket. I cleaned up and then I fell to my knees and began praying the Chaplet of The Devine Mercy. I was broke and had no money to pay the rent on the business which was due again at the end of the week. When I began the Chaplet a calm came over me and these very words came to my mind again and again ?Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.? (Matthew 11:28) I just gave myself over to Him!
Within 2 days, actually on the 3rd day a customer who had been coming in for years, noticed the cold and the stench. I appologised and explained my situation. He offered me his own building in town. It is on the same road and slightly larger. It is a beautiful new building and has plenty of parking (and two restrooms). He told me to just move in and not worry about the cost. He owns a landscaping business and he even sent his trucks and his men to physicaly move my business. We agreed on a rent of $2,000 a month several weeks later. This is less than I was paying 30 years ago.
Now I have learned to trust in God and I know that my prayers are always heard and my petitions granted. I have leaned to ask for my daily bread each morning and to give thanks each eveining. One day at a time is all we get. I, thanks be to God, have been able to offer refuge to family members in need of help due to unemployment…The home God provided for me is not only 5 minutes from work, but also has 3 extra bedrooms. When I do the grocery shopping to fill the shelves, God always seems to make certian there is enough money to cover whatever is needed. God is Amazing! These last 3 years have been full of promise, His promis, and He hasn’t let me down yet! Gary, thank you for this article. I have been telling this story to anyone who will listen. People need to know God and they need to know that He keeps His promises.
Anthony – That is one of the most powerful examples of God’s providence that I’ve ever heard. Thank you for sharing it and please keep proclaiming it to others. People need to hear (and believe) that the Lord will never abandon us!
God Bless,
Gary
Gary,
I too am a worrier. My wife and I have been separated almost 5 years now, mainly because of financial problems. We have now been married for 30 years and have 9 children most of whom are doing well in life though not so much in the faith life. I am trying to get back to work as a self employed lawyer so that I can properly support my family but I am suffering from depression and though I try and go to mass and pray the rosary for my wife every day I still spend a lot of time crying every day which is not productive . I feel that though I have faith in god it is not strong enough. Please pray for my family. I don’t want to be rich but simply to make enough to take proper care of my wife and children and to get back to living with them and caring for them as god clearly intended. AMDG
You and your family will be in my daily prayers, my brother. I’ll begin today when I’m praying before Our Lord at the adoration chapel. Always remember that “with God, ALL things are possible!” (Luke 1:37)
God Bless,
Gary
I sure any consolation I may offer with have little value to you, as I don’t even know you, my friend.
By best advice is to stay your good and determined course. Daily Mass, Pray the Rosary as well. Having Our Holy Mother in our corner…well…it doesn’t get any better. What Son can refuse his loving Mother? In God’s time your prayers will be answered. In the meantime, offer your daily concerns, tribulations and sufferings up with our Lord’s sufferings on the Cross. To do this is a great act of faith and confidence in our Lord. He is listening and hears your prayers. I will keep you and your wife in my prayers James. May God bless you always.
Please pray for me. I am a worrier and have social anxiety. My voice has suffered because of my anxiety. It makes it difficult to talk. Kathy
You will be in my prayers, Kathy.
God Bless,
Gary
You can not out do Christ in benevolence and Mercy. He will provide, if we have enough faith in that He can and He will.
DON”\’T WORRY BE HAPPY
Thank you. I need some inspiration on how to lift myself out of a state of ‘numbness’! Been in dire straits for about two years now. I’ve lost my zeal for prayer though I love and acknowledge God’s providence in my life. I just sail through each day like am in a trance. Am rolling through a dark tunnel and the light at the end seems so distant. Will appreciate some inspiration,
Jackie, you may be under oppression of a dark spirit. Now…please don’t be alarmed by these words. Jesus has clearly demonstrated that they exist and do so ONLY for His good purposes and reasons. Pray the Rosary, daily, WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE IT OR NOT. Receive the Sacraments, particularly, Confession weekly, Holy Communion, as often as possible. Read the Bible. And never, ever think that you are alone. Jesus tells us he will carry us when we need carrying. Lean on Him and confide in Him. You will be delivered in God’s good time. May God bless and be with you, always.
Hi Jackie,
First of all, rest assured that you will be in my daily prayers. As you struggle to get through your day, keep that in mind. Know also that the Lord loves you and He is watching over you. You are not alone. I recommend that you read Psalm 23. Read it slowly and meditate on the words. Allow yourself to be led by the Good Shepherd. When this life seems to be too burdensome, focus on “light at the end of the tunnel”. St Paul assures us that “the sufferings of this present time are NOT WORTH COMPARING with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18) and “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,and what has not entered the human heart,what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9). Pray for an increase in faith and hope daily, so that you can trust in God’s providence and better appreciate the joy that awaits you in Heaven.
If you’re having trouble praying, use great prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary. Also, pray the Psalms (Ps 22 and 23 are good ones to start with). I will ask the Blessed Mother and your guardian angel to watch over you and help you. I’ll ask the Lord to send you His peace. Keep in touch and let me know how you’re making out.
God Bless,
Gary
Two years ago my husband of 30 years asked me for a separation and now a Divorce. Although we had a difficult marriage I always prayed for my husband’s spiritual conversion. When my husband and I spearated I totally fell apart and thought that I could not go on without him. I took all my hurt to the Lord it was a very painful time in my life. I cried for two years longing for God to restore my marriage. The separation has torn my family apart and made my children angy, hurt and sad for what their father has done to them. He even wrote our daughter and said to her that he was entitled to be happy now. I am presently in the process of getting a divorce. My husband is seeing another woman, in fact she was the cause of the separation. I pray daily at mass for him beggin God to still change his heart and bring him home to his family. Whether this is God’s will I do not know but there is a pain in my heart that still yearns to be united with my husband. Pray for me to accept God’s will in my life
I will pray for you, Theresa. I have a friend who is going though the same time of situation with her husband and is in the process of going through a painful divorce. Like you, she is a very devout Catholic and is clinging to the Lord for comfort. She is a very compassionate and caring person and if you ever need someone to talk to, please email me at gary@followingthetruth.com and I’ll put you in touch with her. Stay strong…I’ll be praying!
God Bless,
Gary