“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but you don’t go anywhere.” ~Glenn Turner
I did a quick search on my KJV Bible, and at no time is the word “worry” found. A general definition says, “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.” My research of the word defines the source as a more recent word:
From Old English wyrgan ‘strangle,’ of West Germanic origin.
In Middle English, the original sense of the verb gave rise to the meaning ‘seize by the throat and tear,’
later figuratively ‘harass,’ whence ’cause anxiety to’ (early 19th century, the date also of the noun).
In other words, the word did not exist even if the idea of worrying about life and situations was typical. Anxious is not a word of KJV. Ahhhaaa… One writing said the difference between worry and anxiety is the amount of time spent on the thought. Worry is brief and temporary, and anxiety is much longer.
But the word for “fret” does show up in the KJV, mainly by David and Solomon. This word we use to indicate anxiousness came from a term meant to “glow, grow warm, blaze up as in anger or zeal.” So, we find that words change meanings and use over the centuries.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
(Psalms 37:7-9 KJV)
In other translations, Jesus is quoted as using the word “worry” when the KJV says “take no thought.” Primarily it’s used in the section of the Sermon on the Mount.
“So why do you worry about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is,
and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For after all these things the Gentiles seek.
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
(Matthew 6:28-34 NKJV)
Why Am I Worrying?
I’ve realized that we worry, and none of us are immune from the symptom. We worry more because we know more about what’s going on around us. Perhaps, we conceptualize the worst occurrence, and that becomes our focus. We worry about the possibility more than we consider positive results.
Imagine you are on some frontier in some century past. You only get the news once in a while, and let’s say it’s just once per month. Go further back, and it may be news only shows up annually. Regardless, you accept that you cannot possibly know what has already happened in the meanwhile, and you certainly cannot know about tomorrow. You exist until you know better.
My mom shared a poem that she got from her mom. We’re not sure if there is a published author anywhere, and believe me, I looked… It’s all about your focus on the subject of worrying and comparing it to the solace of prayer.
Worry? Why worry? What can worry do?
It never keeps trouble from overtaking you.
It gives you indigestion and sleepless hours at night.
And fills with gloom the days, however fair and bright.
It puts a frown upon the face and sharpness to the tone.
We’re unfit to live with others and unfit to live alone.
Worry? Why worry? What can worry do?
It never keeps trouble from overtaking you.
Pray? Why pray? What can praying do?
Praying really changes things, arranges life anew.
It’s good for your digestion, gives peaceful sleep at night.
And fills the grayest, gloomiest day with rays of glowing light.
It puts a smile upon your face, the love note in your tone.
Makes you fit to live with others, and fit to live alone.
Pray? Why pray? What can praying do?
It brings God down from heaven to live and walk with you.
(~Unknown)
“We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.”
~John Newton
“Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.”
~Henry Ward Beecher