The Greatest Thief of Joy

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy. I think he had it wrong. But I think worrying is the thief of joy.

Some people make worrying into an Olympic sport. It’s one of the most destructive habits the ensnares human beings and is as common as breathing and blinking. It is such a skilled and deceptive thief that it’s victims don’t even know they have been robbed of peace, time, mental energy as well as emotional well-being.

God never intended us to live fearfully focused on the future -hostages to an emotional heist. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us,

“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Messiah Yeshua.”

Worry is like a leather headband that puts pressure on the mind and interweaves three things. The distress of yesterday, the trials of today, and the fears of tomorrow. It is a vice grip that compresses our joy, cramps our peace and confines our freedom.

Worry is like a thief that steals out peace. Its an exercise that leads to fear and stress instead of faith and rest.

When Jesus talked about worry m He redirected our focus to God. Our worries does not change anything, it only takes away our joy. Focusing on God changes how we handle our worries.

“Cast all your worries on Him because He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7

When we worry we have no resources within ourselves upon which to draw that will affect our situation. Jesus wants us to cast ourselves on Him. He wants us to be dependent on Him for life. When we do this Hr gently picks us up and carries us.

Worrying is like a rehearsed tape in our minds. We know we shouldn’t worry but we cannot seem to turn the tape off… then we worry about worrying.

Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t just tell us to stop worrying without telling us how to stop worrying. While our thoughts and memories can not be erased, the tape can be replaced.

Jesus tells us to focus on,

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things you learned received and saw in Me, so these things and the God of peace will be with you” – Philippians 4:8-9.