Worry: The Parasite That Erodes Faith

When we were little, we may not have realized what other people were doing for us. If our father carried us somewhere, we did not know where he was taking us. If our mother fed us food, we also did not know exactly what we were eating. Yet did we feel worried? Even now, when we are already adults, we still always trust that they will give the best for us.

This attitude is an example of the reflection of faith in our lives. If we can trust human beings that much, why do we sometimes doubt the work of God's hands in our lives? How often are we haunted by worries about tomorrow? Will we still be able to eat, drink, dress ourselves, pay the bills tomorrow?

God is a responsible Father

Many people (including my parents and parents-in-law), when asked how they are, will answer, “Fine. Except for that one thing. Cancer, meaning an empty wallet.”

Hearing it, I just laugh and reply, “How good the Lord. From then until now our wallets have always been empty, yet it turns out we are still alive and lacking nothing.” Then they laugh along while nodding.

My brothers and sisters, God hopes that we will trust Him as the Father who is responsible for our lives. It is written in Matthew 6:25a, “Therefore I tell you: Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink …”

David, who had witnessed the faithfulness of the Lord , also wrote:

“… never have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging for bread.” – Psalm 37:25b.

Worry is a parasite on faith

Hebrews 11:1 defines it: “Faith is the substance of what we hope for and the evidence of what we do not see.”

Basically, worry and faith have something in common. Both are related to something that we have not yet seen, because it has not yet happened. The difference is that faith is oriented toward positive things: hope, surrender, trust. Worry, on the other hand, is oriented toward negative things, namely uneasiness, fear, and anxiety.

Like a parasite, worry will gnaw away at and kill the tree of our faith. Worry makes us feel bad, makes our efforts less than optimal, and becomes an opening for various illnesses of the mind. In fact, reality may not be as bad as we think.

When difficult times come, these tips can help nurture your faith:

1. Count the Lord’s blessings

“Count the blessings of the Lord … You will be amazed by His love...”

That is a snippet from the lyrics of one spiritual song we often sing. We need to remember how the Lord helped us in difficult times. Do not forget every help and every prayer that has been answered.

If in the past the Lord helped us, then now and in the future He will help us again. For He is the Lord who is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Making a list of answered prayers can refresh your faith.

2. Have prayer that transforms

Matthew 6:34 says that each day has troubles of its own. That means that as long as we live, problems and difficulties will come and we must face them. Bringing them in specific prayer will help.

Learn from Jesus, who prayed repeatedly in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before He was arrested. Jesus prayed specifically about His fear of facing the cross. After praying three times, Jesus then felt ready.

What things are currently eroding our faith? Is it because we pray too little? Set aside time to pray specifically about your problem. If prayer does not change the situation, then it is actually we who are being changed. From people who worry into people who are full of faith and ready to face anything.

3. Do our part

“I have faith, so the Lord will surely help me.” This statement sounds so spiritual, but it is very naive if it is not accompanied by real action. For example, a father who is lazy about working and is convinced that the Lord will provide for his children's needs. This is not faith, but a mask to hide his badness.

In James 2:20 it is said, “Faith without works is empty faith.” We ask the Lord to work, but we ourselves do not want to work. Who is the Lord to us? Could it be that we are making the Lord our servant?

So, pray and do our part. Next, let the Lord fulfill His plan.

There is no life without problems. However, instead of worrying, let us make problems an arena for training faith. Remember His help in the past, have prayer that transforms, and do our part. After that, the Lord will do His part. Come on, let’s say good-bye to worry!