Worry Merchants

Why Are We Like This?

Beloved friend,

Quick question: why do we act like unpaid worry merchants, always looking for the next thing to stress about? Like, who signed us up for this? Have you ever caught yourself lying down, with absolutely nothing going on, and somehow managed to create a whole new problem in your head? You’re not alone, friend. In fact, tell me in the comments what’s the most random thing you’ve worried about lately – I’ll go first! (And trust me, it’s good.)

Now that we’re in this together, let’s talk about why worry is so sneaky and how it keeps us stuck.

I’ve come to learn that worry is a thief. And no, not the kind that jumps out of the bushes – it’s more like the sneaky one that sits quietly in the corner, collecting bits of your peace until one day you’re left wondering why you’re exhausted, even though you’ve done absolutely nothing. Isn’t it funny how, despite doing nothing, we can still feel like we've been running a mental marathon?

Friend, have you ever met a professional worrier? You know, the kind of person who seems to live for the next thing to worry about. Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Nope, that’s not me. But my sister, now she worries about everything.” Guess what? You’re worried about her worrying, so technically... you’re still worrying!

Worry can be like that subtle itch – barely noticeable at first but gradually taking over until it’s all-consuming. I know because I used to be a card-carrying member of the professional worriers' club.

You know, some people worry about the really big things – like their careers, health, or finances. And while those are all valid concerns (even the Bible says in Matthew 6:31-32 that we shouldn’t worry about what we’ll eat, drink, or wear), I’ve found that I don’t stress over those huge life-altering issues. No, I’m the person who gets caught up worrying about the littlest, simplest things – things that most people wouldn’t even give a second thought to.

I worried about things out of my control, things I could control, and things that were years away from happening. No joke, back in 200L, I overheard someone groaning about how hard it was to write a final year project. I was nowhere near final year, but guess who spent a good chunk of time stressing about it? Yours truly. The project I hadn't even started was already haunting me!

And if that wasn’t enough, I saw someone trying to fit their hair perfectly into that NYSC cap. You’d think I had more pressing things to think about, but there I was, planning out how my hair would look a full year before I even needed to wear the cap. Talk about early prep – or in this case, early worry!

Now, you’d think I’ve grown out of that, but no. A few weeks ago , I was mindlessly scrolling through pre-wedding pictures, and out of nowhere, I started worrying. “Ah, they’re going to finish all the creative poses before it’s my turn! What will I do?” I playfully mentioned it to a friend, and she, in her calm wisdom, said, “By then, more innovative things will have come out.” It was then I realized – I was worrying about something that hadn’t even crossed my mind before!

Yes, these are the thoughts that occupy my mind! I don’t mean to say that worrying about big things is valid – it absolutely isn’t. But whether it’s the big stuff or the tiny stuff, worry has a way of creeping in and robbing us of peace.

I’ve realized I don’t stress much over the big things anymore because I know God’s promises to me, and I trust them completely. If I can have faith that God will handle the major parts of my life, it feels almost foolish to worry about the smaller details. And friend, if you truly believe that God is intentional about even the tiniest aspects of your life, why not trust that the same God who can level mountains can easily turn that huge problem you're facing into nothing but a small bump on your journey?

The thing is, worry in any form is dangerous. Whether it’s the big storms or the tiny ripples, worry distracts us from trusting in the security we have in God. Philippians 4:6 reminds us to “be anxious for nothing,” and that includes both the big and small things. Instead, we’re called to pray about everything – to hand over the stress, the overthinking, and the mental overload to Abba.

The more I read and reflect, the more I realize that the size of the worry doesn’t matter. Big or small, it all points to the same issue: we’re leaning on ourselves instead of trusting that God’s got us. Matthew 6:27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The truth is, it doesn’t matter whether it’s about money or hairstyles, the outcome is the same: it’s a waste of time and energy.

I’ve also been learning that worry is a joy-stealer. It robs you of the spontaneity of living one day at a time, trusting God with the details. Matthew 6:34 reminds us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” When I look back, I realize how many moments I missed out on because I was so focused on what could go wrong.

But it’s not all bad news – I’m gradually winning this battle against worry. One step at a time, one scripture at a time. I’m leaning into the truth that God’s got it all figured out, even when I don’t. I’ve started choosing peace over panic and prayer over pointless worry. And honestly, the more I give my worries to God, the more freedom I feel.

If you’re anything like me – a recovering professional worrier – I want to remind you that there’s a better way. Let’s leave the worry club and embrace the security that comes from knowing Abba holds our future. After all, He’s the same God who tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” You might be surprised at how much lighter you’ll feel when you stop carrying the weight of things you weren’t meant to bear.

And before you go, I want to ask a favor – if this newsletter made you smile, laugh, or nod your head in agreement, share it with a friend who might need it. Share it with that one person who also worries about the most random things (you know who they are). Let’s spread the peace and kick worry out for good!

With thoughts of kindness and peace (and less worry) 😂❤️

ABBA’s Shofar