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Worry and the Christian: Scripture, Struggle, and Sanity

Worry and the Christian: Scripture, Struggle, and Sanity

Worry and the Christian: Scripture, Struggle, and Sanity

Worry is often misunderstood in the Church. Some treat it as an unforgivable sin. Others shrug it off as human nature. What does the Bible actually say?

 

The Greek word translated “worry” or “anxiety” in most New Testament contexts is μεριμνάω (merimnaō, Strong’s G3309), meaning to be pulled in different directions, to be divided, or to be distracted with care. It appears in both negative and neutral contexts, which forces us to read carefully rather than draw rigid conclusions.

 

Jesus on Worry: Do Not Be Anxious

In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus delivers what appears to be the most straightforward command:

 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life…” (Matthew 6:25, NLT)

 

The command “do not worry” here is imperative and repeats several times. Jesus points out how worry over food, clothing, and length of life is rooted in a lack of trust in the Father’s care. The key issue here is faithlessness, not emotional tension. Worry is a failure to rest in God’s provision—not the mere feeling of concern.

 

He ends the section with this wisdom:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34)

 

Jesus is not denying that life has trouble. He’s commanding His followers not to become consumed by it.

 

Paul on Anxiety: A Pastoral Burden

At first glance, Paul seems to contradict Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 11:28, he says:

 

“Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.”

 

The word translated “concern” is again μεριμνά (merimna), from the same root as merimnaō. Here, it is clearly describing an emotional and spiritual burden of love—not a sinful condition. Paul is expressing the tension of leadership and pastoral care. He carries this anxiety out of deep spiritual responsibility, not unbelief.

 

Likewise, in Philippians 2:28, Paul says he is “all the more anxious to send [Epaphroditus], so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.” Again, the term reflects relational concern, not unbelief or selfish worry.

 

This is the same Paul who commands in Philippians 4:6:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.”

 

The key is this: Paul is not denying that we feel concern—he’s warning us not to let it go unguarded by prayer and trust.

 

Jesus’ Agony: The Garden of Gethsemane

Perhaps the most sobering picture of holy anxiety is Jesus Himself. In Luke 22:44, we read:

“He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”

 

This condition is medically recognized as hematidrosis—sweating blood due to extreme emotional or physical stress. Jesus is not faithless—He is submitting fully to the will of

 

God under the unbearable weight of bearing sin. His anxiety leads Him to pray more fervently, not to flee God’s will.

 

So was Jesus worried? Yes, but not in the Matthew 6 sense. But He did carry unimaginable emotional and spiritual burden. His actions were the very model of trusting submission.

 

Resolving the Paradox: Worry vs. Concern

 

Here’s the biblical tension:

  • Worry, when rooted in fear, unbelief, or obsession with control, is condemned.

  • Concern, when driven by love, intercession, and responsibility, is part of healthy Christian maturity.

 

This is why Peter writes:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)


The Greek here is μεριμνᾶτε (merimnate – same root), followed by the affirmation: “He cares”μέλει (melei, Strong’s G3199). The wordplay reveals that you can hand your care to the One who cares.

 

The antidote to sinful worry is not denial but trust. Prayer doesn’t erase the problem—it repositions the burden.

 

Application: Living in Peace, Not Denial

Paul never says you won’t feel anxiety. He tells you what to do with it:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… Then you will experience God’s peace.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

 

This is not a passive suggestion—it’s a call to active, trusting surrender. You still may feel tension. You may still pace the floor. But you are choosing to trust that the outcome is in God’s hands, not yours.


Conclusion

Worry is a real battle. The Scriptures don’t treat it lightly—but they don’t treat sufferers like faithless failures either. Jesus felt anguish. Paul bore emotional burdens. But both turned to the Father, not away.

 

Let the Church stop teaching that every emotional strain is a sin. Instead, let us train ourselves to turn worry into worship, concern into prayer, and burdens into a deeper reliance on the God who truly cares for us.

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