The future is scary. And I’m not just talking about potential wars and inflation and other horrors. All of us have “future fears”, whether you’re a teenager worried about grades; a college student worried about your career; a parent worried about children; a grandparent worried about retirement…The future looms large, hovering like a dark cloud, and it’s so easy to spend time wondering and worrying about what might happen.
Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “What is she talking about?” If that’s you, feel free to swipe up on this blog and enjoy your carefree life.
For the rest of you — there’s a one word solution to our fears of the future. Are you ready for it? Grab a pen….
Just stop.
Before you swipe up, give me a chance to explain:
We can choose what lives in our mind, what takes root and grows. Conversely, we can choose what only stops in for a visit.
For example, I am often tempted to let fears about the future take root in my brain. I hear something on the news about potential war, and I begin thinking about books I’ve read about World War 2, about bombings and deaths and men dying and economies being crippled…and on and on. I can let that one thought develop into hours of fear, creating stories in my mind (a downside of being a writer!).
But I don’t have to let that thought take root. I can push it out. God doesn’t want me dwelling on a hypothetical future. In fact, Jesus commanded that we “do not worry”!
So what can I do when those thoughts drop in?
- Memorize a Bible verse (I recommend Phil. 4:8 or Matthew 11:28-30)
- Pray for someone
- Look for someone in your life you can serve or encourage
- Share your struggles with a godly friend
- Read a Christian book
Friends, to worry is human. But that doesn’t mean it’s right. And for some of us, it’s become a habit — a habit that we need to break.
So, when you find yourself circling down the drain of worry, STOP. Retrain your brain. It is possible, I promise. Not easy! But so worth the effort.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~Phil. 4:8
