Worry is all the rage.
Worry is booming, although so much activity has stopped or reduced dramatically. For most of us there’s a lot to worry about.
- Covid-19
- Losing your job or source of income
- Running out of things you need
- How will easing Lockdown work?
- When and how will schools reopen?
I expect there are plenty of things I’ve missed.
Why worry if you can still go to work?
If you still have a job, many people might envy you. But some of us know that work is not always a complete delight. There are often things to worry about at work.
- Deadlines
- Inspections
- Relationships
- Bosses
- Subordinates
- Complaints
Then there’s the suspicion that you’re a square peg in a round hole.
So it’s natural to worry, but does it help?
It doesn’t do any good. Jesus said a lot about worrying in Matthew (Chapter 6 verses 24 to 34). I like the remark that worrying does not add an inch to your height or a day to your life. Doctors say it actually reduces your life. I remember Rabbi Lionel Blue, who used to do little talks on radio, once said all the things he worried about never happened. Did he have an easy life? No! Lots of bad things happened to him, but they were all unexpected. He hadn’t been worrying about them.
I once had a lot to worry about
I was being bullied at work for several years. My faith helped me to cope. I found Psalm 37 spoke to me. It begins with the words, ‘Do not fret’ and that phrase recurs several times in it. You might like to read it. You also might find help in some of my previous posts on coping with Lockdown such as the one on putting problems in perspective or the one on laughing.
Stay safe!