The late Henri Nouwen, noted 20th century spiritual giant, says that one of our main causes of worrying is our preoccupations. Nouwen states, “To be pre-occupied means to fill our time and place long before we are there… It is a mind filled with “Ifs.” From our own experience with worry, most of us can take it from there. What if this happens or that happens to us or our loved ones? We worry excessively and anxiety reigns. As Nouwen continued, “Much, if not most, of our suffering is connected with these preoccupations.”

What is worry anyway? Of course, worry can be defined in numerous ways, but the following is one of the most meaningful ways. “Worry is a sense of paralyzed uneasiness that revolves around a thick center of fear.” As I focus on worry, the words of Jesus come offering us healing and hope. Jesus says, “…Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well. So, do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:32b-34). So what steps can we take for the treatment of worry?

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The Rev. Hal Brady is an ordained United Methodist minister and executive director of Hal Brady Ministries, based in Atlanta. You can watch him preach every week on the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters TV channel Thursdays at 8 p.m.

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