Women Worry: What’s a Gal to Do?
According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIH), 33% of all women meet the criteria for anxiety disorder. Can you believe it? We worry. We even experience what is called anticipatory anxiety. We worry about things that might happen, which is like bleeding before we are even hurt.
There’s a story of fear in the Bible.
Jesus and his disciples were hanging out. Now, these were part of His intimate circle. They had just seen Him perform many miraculous healings.
But when they woke up in a boat in the middle of what was described as a furious storm. They were terrified. And Jesus is in the boat sleeping. He’s not worried.
So, they woke Him up, crying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Instead of comforting them, Jesus asks two questions. Why are you so afraid? How is it you have no faith?
Consider who the disciples might have thought.
I imagine they might have felt chastised.
But did you notice that He ties their fear to their lack of faith?
He wanted to know why they had no faith.
Faith is defined as a belief or confidence in someone or something.
Jesus wanted their faith, or their confidence, to be in Him when they were fearful.
I think there is a lesson here for us as well.
I want you to pause for a minute and consider what or whom you put your faith in.
Is it in the roles you play in life? Your looks? Your abilities or your job?
Is it a person? One that you count on to make you feel worthy?
But what if those things or people disappear? Will fear take over your life?
It was pointed out to me recently that faith is a noun, a belief, or a thing, but trust is a verb.
But Hebrews 11:1 says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (NKJ).
Our faith has to involve hoping for something we can’t see.
And how do we get this kind of faith?
Romans 10:17 says, So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (NKJ).
But can we hear God in our day-to-day lives?
YES, God speaks to us as we spend time with Him and in His Word.
He speaks to us for many reasons.
To prove we are His: John 8:47 says, whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
To guide us: And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it (Isaiah 30 21).
So we will seek Him and communicate with us: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3).
Moving from faith, the noun, to trust, the action, involves knowing God has our best in mind.
Our best might include difficult times: Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work
So that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If any of you lacks wisdom (to count it all joy), you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2-6).
I can attest that God helps us with our fears on a very personal level.
I suffered from anticipatory fear when my husband was diagnosed with cancer and given three to five years to live.
My faith was weak, but God held me up repeatedly for the forty years my husband lived with cancer.
Life didn’t go the way I planned, but God was always faithful
He continues to support me as a widow and provided mature Christians who have helped me grow in my faith.
So, what’s a gal to do?
Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7),
If you have fears, step out in faith and trust God loves you and has a plan for your life.
If you have trials, use them as opportunities to trust or to learn a life lesson.
Only then can you be free from fear.