Do not worry.
Dr. Rikki Permenter
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”
Matthew 6:25
Are you a worrier? Do you worry about big things, little things, all the things? Let’s take a minute here to talk about the difference between diagnosable Anxiety and worry. Diagnosable Anxiety has components of worry but it is a chemical imbalance that causes feelings of panic that are associated with thoughts rather than actual fight or flight, life or death situations. When you have diagnosable anxiety you don’t always have an identified “thing” you are anxious about - you’re more just anxious as a way of life.
Both of these states are the result of sin. Diagnosable Anxiety is the result of global sin’s impact on people’s bodies because we live in a fallen world and in fallen bodies. Worry is more a result of your own personal sin. Worry is a state of not trusting that God has your best interest in mind - even when you don’t understand or don’t see how things could possibly work out. Worry is when you don’t view God as your sovereign and capable father who is good and wants good things for you.
So are you worried about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear? Is {your} life not more than food, and the body more than clothes? God will take care of you. Think upon the difference in worry and anxiety this week and try to identify which, if either, you struggle with.
Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and the mom of Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth, the cutest little girls in Bluff Creek. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.
