How to Stop Worrying: 7 Tips to help Christians

When we feel that things are out of our control we tend to worry but how do you stop worrying?  Most of the awful things we imagine will happen never do. We can be thankful for that.

We should understand that worrying never helps a situation get better. Worrying sends a message to ourselves and those around us that we are helpless and have no where to turn. However, as a Christian, we believe that God has everything in His control. If He really does, and we really believe that, then we have nothing to worry about. We only need to trust that God will take care of everything according to His plan.

1. Pray To Stop Worrying

Philippians 4:6, 7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

These wonderful verses tell us to not be filled with care or worry, but to trust God in prayer. Stop worrying by taking your requests to Him. There is nothing wrong with having concern over matters and sharing that with God and with others so that you can pray.

Often in prayer you will hear people asking God for peace in a situation. Why do we need peace? Because without the hope we have in God we would be filled with worry. Paul tells us in these verses we can trade our worry for peace through prayer.

2.Be Thankful

In the above verses to the Philippians, Paul says that another aspect of getting rid of worry is to be thankful. Be thankful for the things you have. Don’t dwell on those things you cannot control.

Paul indicates that there is nothing wrong with taking your questions and concerns to God. But we should not go to Him out of anger and demand that He work everything out the way we want. We should humbly go to Him in prayer, with a thankful heart, and ask Him to give us that peace that will open our minds to understand and accept His plan.

3.Think on Good Things

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Just after Paul’s comments about worry he says that we should think on good, godly things. When we focus on positive and wholesome events, memories, plans, etc., then it is hard to be worried about everything else.

4.Holy Spirit Can Bring Peace

John 14:26, 27 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

In John 14 Jesus is explaining to the disciples where He is going and that He will return. In the meantime the Holy Spirit of God will come and indwell the believers. This was something new to the people of Jesus’ day. They did not have the Holy Spirit living within them like we do as believers today.

One of the names of the Holy Spirit that Jesus often used was Comforter. As a comforter the Holy Spirit can help take your cares and ease them. That doesn’t mean we never have concern for things, but we don’t worry like we would if we didn’t trust that God was in charge. The Holy Spirit is our companion to remind us that God has control.

5.Trust God’s Strength

Psalm 27:1-3 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Life was a lot less scary (and worrisome) when we were kids and we had parents who were bigger and stronger than us. When we had problems we could go to them and they would say that they would take care of it. We have a God that wants to do that for us today. Will you take your concerns to Him and rely on His strength? He is waiting to take that burden from you.

6.Worry is Not From God

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Fear that we have is not from God. Understand that the basis of your worry ultimately comes back to the fact that you are not trusting God. God wants us to stop worrying and not to be afraid.

7.Remember that God Cares For You

1 Peter 5:6, 7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

God cares for you and me. He wants to take our problems and resolve them. Isn’t it frustrating for us as parents to see our children struggling with a problem, but they won’t listen to us on how to solve it? They come to us and tell us things are wrong, yet when we offer a solution they take the problem back and try to solve it on their own. It makes us hurt for their sakes. What are we doing to God when we worry? When we tell Him we want His help, but then we take the problem back and try to shoulder it ourselves?

I have a friend that says she gets worried when she has nothing to worry about. I know she is joking when she says that, but the truth is we often do the same thing. Worry and anxiety becomes a habit. In some way it gives us comfort, yet it is not healthy and it shows a lack of faith.

When you are tempted to worry or stress remind yourself that worry is a lack of faith in God. When you can trust that God has a perfect plan, then you will be able to stop worrying.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Hebrews 4:1-11: A Sabbath-Rest for God's People

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

1Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

1Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.

2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.

2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

2For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith

3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.

3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3(for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what He has said: So I swore in My anger, they will not enter My rest. And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world,

4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "On the seventh day God rested from all his works."

4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

4For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS";

4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

4for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.

NIV

ESV

NASB

KJV

HCSB

5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."

5And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

5and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."

5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

5Again, in that passage He says, They will never enter My rest.

6Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,

6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

6Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

6Since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,

7God again set a certain day, calling it "Today." This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

7again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

7He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

7again, He specifies a certain day--today--speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

9Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God's people.

NIV

ESV

NASB

KJV

HCSB

10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

10For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

10For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.

11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

11Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.