Permission Denied

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Proverbs 12:25

Worry is one of the greatest enemies of the soul. We worry when we allow our minds to dwell on difficulties or troubles. I’ve heard people say, “I can’t help that I worry.” But worry, by definition, is to allow the mind to dwell. This means that we actually have to give ourselves permission to worry. When you give yourself permission to dwell on difficulty or trouble, the Bible says you become weighed down.

If worrying is a choice, then not worrying has to be a choice as well. While worrying may seem like the easier choice, I challenge you, the next time difficulty or trouble comes, to make the bold choice not to worry. Start by casting your cares on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Then leave them there. Don’t think of worry as your default mode, but as an option, a choice, something that requires your permission. When worry asks for permission to enter, stand up and tell worry, “Permission denied.”