Worry, Fear & Anxiety

J.C. Ryle

Half our miseries are caused by things that we think are coming upon us.

Edward T. Welch
Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest

Worry is dangerous. It is not to be trifled with. When you find worries, anxieties, and fears, pay attention (95).

At this point, we know that worry and fear are more about us than about the things outside us. They reveal what is valuable to us, and what is valuable to us in turn reveals our kingdom allegiances. We also know that God is patient and compassionate with us, and he gives grace upon grace. Though alert to our divided allegiances, he persists in calling us away from fear and worry, persuades us of the beauty of the kingdom, and gives more than we can imagine.

With this in mind, his words should sound attractive, and we should be more and more inclined to listen. We should still like to abolish anxieties quickly, but we are learning that God values strong foundations and gradual growth, and such foundations are established as we feed on him and his words. As we meditate on Scripture and make it our own, we should anticipate slow but steady change. Worriers should be experts in a handful of passages (147).