Breaking the Worry Habit

Last Wednesday, I traveled to Nairobi City to produce a hymn I had composed. As I always do whenever I go to Nairobi, I decided to purchase some books. So while strolling along some streets in the city, I kept stopping on every bookstall I passed by to see if there was any book worth buying. To my delight, I came across one bookstall that was selling books I have always desired to read. What delighted me even more was to hear from the book-vendor that he was selling the books at prices that were affordable to me.

Because of the affordable prices of the books, I picked four of them and then walked to where the book-vendor was seated, intending to bargain with him that he sells the books to me at cheaper prices now that I was purchasing four of them. When I begged him to lower the prices for me, he affectionately embraced my hands with his and whispered to my ear that he was selling the books to me at the cheapest price possible. And when I insisted that he lowers the prices for me, he asked me if the prices weren't fair.

Agreeing that he was selling the books at fair prices, I stopped bothering him, paid him the money and walked away with the books in my hands. I felt so elated to be in possession of the books that I sauntered the rest of the distance with a spring in my step and joy in my soul. Imagine I could hardly wait to start reading the books.

But you know what? Instead of feeling enthused the following day when I began reading one of the books, I found myself worrying that I could have contracted the dreaded coronavirus when the book-vendor affectionately embraced my hands with his in a crowded street. In these times of coronavirus pandemic, hadn't the vendor heard of social distancing and using sanitizers?

I kept worrying about the possibility of me having caught the coronavirus as the day wore on. But later on in the day, I turned the matter over to God by asking Him through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, that He let it be the case that I never contracted the coronavirus from the book--vendor. After praying, I felt the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. And I now believe God answered my prayers because so far, I have not developed any symptoms of coronavirus: symptoms such as fever, coughing, sneezing, headaches and difficulty in breathing.

By the way, last Thursday wasn't the first time I have found myself worrying over some strange issues. There have been other times in the past few years when I have been anxious about something. Not so long ago, there was a time when during my walk to my hometown of Kiserian, I worried that I may have left my electric heater on. That got me concerned with what could happen to my room if the electric heater was on.

From my readings and from the stories I have heard from other people, I have learnt I am not the only one who worries over problems, both minor and major. Worrying is a malady that afflicts virtually all people. That must be what prompted Dale Carnegie, the famous 20th century writer, to author a book about worrying titled How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

One thing I have discovered about worrying is that it is very addictive. If we worry about minor issues such as the possibility of having left the water tap on, we end worrying about major issues such as the possibility of losing a loved one through an accident or terminal illness. Worrying is that addictive.

But worrying is a useless habit because it doesn't empty tomorrow off its problems; it only keeps us from enjoying our present blessings. Worrying is like riding in a rocking chair; it gives us something to do but doesn't get us anywhere.

It has dawned on me that the best way to break the worry habit is to trust God fully and turn over to Him every issue that is troubling us, just like I did last Thursday when I worried that I could have contracted the dreaded coronavirus. The Bible promises us that if we talk to God about any issue that is causing us anxiety, He will fill us with the peace which surpasses all understanding and make the answers known to us.

Having experienced that peace which surpasses all understanding on several occasions, I now believe God doesn't want us to worry about anything; He only allows problems into our lives so that we can pray. So my advice to you is that whenever you catch yourself worrying, however small the issue, tell God about it in your prayers. He will fill you with His peace and cover you with His grace. That's all I am saying.

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NEW! NEW! NEW! If you missed my social media update three days ago, let me take this opportunity to inform you that I have produced a new hymn that is available in the videos' section of this blog. Just click on the "videos" link on the menu at the top of this blog to access the hymn.