What are you worried about?

“Worrying is not necessarily the best use of our emotional energy and spiritual capacity.”

Leaders worry about stuff. We just do. I don’t mean that wring-your-hands, fretting and get-sick-to-your-stomach kind of worry. But that kind of natural focused concern about things you care about.
Like we “worry” about our kids. Parents care, we just do. We want our kids to be safe, healthy and make good decisions. That’s normal, but … not necessarily the best use of our emotional energy and spiritual capacity.
The bottom line is that worry isn’t helpful or productive, and rarely changes anything.

There are common worries leaders experience such as:
1. Worry about what other people think.
2. Worry about what we can’t control.
3. Worry about finances.
4. Worry about church growth.
5. Worry about opposition or a confrontation.

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

This is your reality checkpoint

In a leadership talk, John Maxwell asked the question, “Why worry?” Here’s what he said:
* 40 % of the things we worry about will never happen.
* 30 % of the things we worry about concerns old decisions that cannot be changed.
* 12 % of the things we worry about centers upon criticisms made by people who feel inferior.
* 10 % of the things we worry about is related to my health, which worsens when I worry.
* 8 % of the things we worry about is legitimate, which can be met head on when you have eliminated senseless worries.
That’s the beginning to winning over worry. Focus on what you can do something about. This leads us to the first step to remedy worry.

Take Action
If there is nothing you can do about it, let it go. I mean really, let it go. Stop losing sleep over it.
For that small percent of legitimate concerns, do something. Take action! Such as:

* Pick up the phone.
* Make a decision.
* Have the conversation.
* Get some help.

Jesus said:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 6:25-32

Trust God.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34
When we trust God we increase our faith. The devil loves to make us doubt. We are drawn to people of great faith because they offer hope. People will always follow a leader with great faith who offers hope over one who worries.

Get Some Rest.
Sometimes we overcomplicate things. We can overthink stuff and become exhausted. You might just need to take a break. Get some rest. This is a powerful tool to change your perspective. Remember: 
“When you have done all you can do, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” —Victor Hugo

Pastor C