Nothing Productive Occurs When You Worry

Do not worry about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

I got to tell you St. Paul’s words are easier to write or say than to do. Whenever I come across this passage I think of two other related sayings. One by Robert Frost who said, “The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.”

Robert Frost

The other was said by Fanny Taylor, my grandmother’s housekeeper who would tell me that, “The good Lord will provide, but he wants you to work for it.”

Perhaps what St. Paul is saying is that rather than worry you should be in a conversation with God, a good old fashioned talk where you listen as much as you speak. When we do that St. Paul doesn’t tell us our requests will be granted, instead he offers something greater — the peace of God will guard your heart and mind.

I bet if you search your memory you will remember a time when in a talk with a parent, a friend, or a counselor you bared your heart and soul and the conversation was extremely therapeutic. Consider doing the same with God.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

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