The one who could rid the world of worry would render greater service to mankind than all of the inventors and discoverers ever lived. This monster dogs us from the cradle to the grave. What have not men done under the pressure of worry! They have plunged into all sorts of vices; have become drunkards, drug friends; have sold their very souls to escape this monster.
Think of the homes it has broken up; the ambitions it has ruined; the hopes and prospects it has blighted! Think of the suicide victims of this demon! If there is any devil in existence, is it not worry, with all it’s attendant progeny of evils? Yet, in spite of all the tragic evils that follow in it’s wake, we seem to hug it to ourselves as if it is our dearest and most helpful friend, and are so reluctant to part with it.
Worry not only saps vitality and wastes energy but it drastically affects the quality of one’s work. It cuts down ability. A man can’t get the same quality of efficiency into his work when his mind is troubled. The mental faculties must have perfect freedom before they will give out their best. A troubled mind cannot think clearly, vigorously, and logically.
When faith, rather than fear, becomes your obsession, you will master worry. And how does one fill the mind so completely with faith that this fear will be displaced? One method is to read books about people who have overcome every manner of difficulty and fear by applying the skills of faith. Staturate your mind with such biographical material and it will help recondition your life and free you from worry.
An important technique is to fill your mind with the comforting words of the Scriptures. There is enormous power in the words of the Scriptures of all faiths. The Bible says: “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7). Read and study your Scriptures underlying every passage that has to do with faith. Assemble a great collection of such passages and, each day, absorb at least one into consciousness.
Another proven technique for destroying worry is to set up against it the contrary attitude of boldness. Obviously, the worrier is not a bold person, but boldness can be cultivated. But assumed boldness must not be mere cockiness. It must be soundly based on faith as expressed by the holy words, “Fear not: for I am with thee.” (Isaiah 43:5) By this method of boldness your fear will disintegrate, for it cannot long maintain itself in the atmosphere of spiritual courage. The great philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, advised: “Do the things you fear and the death of fear is certain.” Boldness will reveal to you that you are stronger than you have imagined.
See your fears for what they are, and stand up to them and kill them. But in doing this you must have, not bravado, but faith. Nor is it a vague kind of faith; but a strong, unshakable faith in God. Only faith in God can kill your fear or worries. The ultimate technique of ending worry is to bring God into every fear situation. No fear can live in the presence of God. The deeper your faith in God becomes, the less power fear will have over you. The Bible outlines the process: “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4).
