Chapter 50—Worry and Anxiety
Worry, Not Work, Kills—It is not work that kills; it is worry. The
only way to avoid worry is to take every trouble to Christ. Let us not
look on the dark side. Let us cultivate cheerfulness of spirit.—Lt 208,
1903.
Dwelling Upon the Difficulties—Some are always fearing and
borrowing trouble. Every day they are surrounded with the tokens of
God’s love; every day they are enjoying the bounties of His providence;
but they overlook these present blessings. Their minds are continually
dwelling upon something disagreeable which they fear may come;
or some difficulty may really exist which, though small, blinds their
eyes to the many things that demand gratitude. The difficulties they
encounter, instead of driving them to God, the only source of their help,
separate them from him because they awaken unrest and repining.—
Steps to Christ, 121, 122
(1892).
Worry Makes the Burden Heavy—I greatly fear that we are in
danger, by worrying, of manufacturing yokes for our necks. Let us
not worry; for thus we make the yoke severe and the burden heavy.
Let us do all we can without worrying, trusting in Christ. Study His
words, “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye
[467]
shall receive” (
Matthew 21:22
). These words are the pledge that all
that an omnipotent Saviour can bestow will be given to those who trust
in Him. As stewards of the grace of heaven, we are to ask in faith
and then wait trustingly for the salvation of God. We are not to step
in before Him, trying in our own strength to bring about that which
we desire. In His name we are to ask, and then we are to act as if we
believed in His efficiency.—Lt 123, 1904.
Not the Will of God—It is not the will of God that His people
should be weighed down with care.—
Steps to Christ, 122
(1892).
Anxiety Tends to Sickness and Disease—When wrongs have
been righted, we may present the needs of the sick to the Lord in
calm faith, as His Spirit may indicate. He knows each individual by
name and cares for each as if there were not another upon the earth
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