The Problem Of Worry

The word "worry" (Greek--merimna) means "anxiety, care, that which divides, distracts the mind and which draws a troubled person’s mind in different directions." Sometimes the word is used of a healthy and helpful concern and care (1 Corinthians 7:32,34; 12:25; 2 Cor. 11:28; Phil. 2:20), but it is also used of an unhealthy and harmful concern and care, which we call "WORRY."

People worry about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Look up the following verses and write down some of the things people worry about:

1) Worry is Disobedience.

In Philippians 4:6, the Lord says, "Be C_______________ (full of cares and anxieties) for ___________________" which means "WORRY ABOUT NOTHING" or "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ONE THING" or "STOP WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING." Therefore, whenever we worry about ANYTHING, we are DISOBEYING God’s command here in Philippians 4:6! When God tells us not to worry, He means it! God sees worry as SINFUL DISOBEDIENCE. Is that how we see it?

2) Worry is Unbelief.

The Lord Jesus gave some important instructions about "WORRY" in Matthew 6:25-34. In this passage, what verse clearly indicates that worry is UNBELIEF? Verse _______ The person who is troubled with worries and cares is really saying, "I DO NOT BELIEVE that God loves me and cares for me and is able to take care of my problems!" Worry and trust cannot live together in the same house. As long as trust abides, worry can never enter. When worry comes in, trust has already left! Worry starts where faith ends.

3) Worry is a Form of Atheism.

The atheist says, "T____________ I_____ N____ G________" (Psalm 14:1). The person who worries is really saying, "THERE IS NO GOD who can handle my problems and take care of my life and my future." The one who worries, as well as the atheist, is a F___________ (Psalm 14:1).

4) Worry Can Lead to Physical Problems.

Stomach ulcers and other physical problems can often result from needless worry and anxiety. Not only is worry spiritually unhealthy, but it is also physically unhealthy. Worry can never help us, but it can harm us.

5) Worry is Illogical (Senseless).

Worry makes no sense. In Matthew 6:25-26, the Lord Jesus illustrated how ILLOGICAL worry really is. Let’s look first at verse 25:

T___________ N___ T________________ (do not be anxious, do not be worried) for your LIFE, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your BODY, what ye shall put on (Matthew 6:25a).

The Lord Jesus then asked, "Is not the LIFE ___________ _________ meat (food, nourishment)?" What is the answer to this question? _________ "Is not the BODY more than raiment (clothing)?" What is the answer? ________

Which is greater (more important), the LIFE that God has given to you or the FOOD that God has given to you? ____________________________________________ Would you rather have your LIFE or would you rather have a HAMBURGER? _________________________ Can you survive without a hamburger? ______ Can you survive without your life? ______ IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU LIFE (which is the greater gift), WILL HE NOT ALSO GIVE YOU THE FOOD AND DRINK THAT SUPPORT LIFE (which are the lesser gifts)? If God gave you the greater, will not He give you the lesser? _______ The worried person is really saying, "The God who gave me LIFE is unable to give me FOOD and DRINK." Does that make sense? ________

Which is greater, the BODY that God has given to you or the CLOTHES that God has given to you? ____________________________ Would you rather have your BODY or would you rather have a SUIT or a DRESS? ______________ Can you survive without a suit or a dress? _____ Can you survive without your body? _____ IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A BODY (which is the greater gift), WILL HE NOT ALSO GIVE YOU CLOTHES THAT COVER THE BODY (which are the lesser gifts)? _______ If God gave you the greater, will He not also give you the lesser? _____ The worried person is really saying, "The God who gave me my BODY is unable to give me CLOTHES to cover it." Does that make sense? _______

Illustrations: Suppose a father gave his child an expensive battery operated toy as a birthday present. Do you think this father would also supply batteries to go with it? _________ Suppose a father goes to all the trouble of constructing a basketball court (with hoops and everything) in the backyard for his son. Do you think he would also supply a basketball to go with it? _______ When Mom cooks supper, does she also supply all the plates, glasses and silverware to go with it? _______ Likewise, if God has given us a LIFE and a BODY, will He also supply all of our NEEDS (Philippians 4:19)? ________

Now consider verse 26 (Matthew 6): "Behold the __________ of the ______: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your _________________ ______________ ______________ _______." Again Jesus asked a question: "Are ye not much better than they?" What is the answer? _______ Which are more important and valuable to God, birds or men (Matthew 10:31)? _________ If GOD FEEDS AND CARES FOR BIRDS (which are of lesser value), WILL HE NOT FEED AND CARE FOR MEN (which are of greater value)? ______ If a mother feeds and cares for the family cat, will she not do the same for the family children? ______ If a father takes good care of the family car (feeds it with gas, keeps it clean and polished), will he not do the same and much more for his children? _______ The worried person is really saying, "The birds are of more value to God than me!" Does that make sense? ________

6) Worry Can Do No Good.

Worry has never been able to help anyone. Worry has never accomplished anything. Worry has never solved even one problem. Worry can look at problems but it can never solve problems. Worry is useless and unprofitable. Worry does absolutely no good. The Lord Jesus said it this way, "Which of you ______ _____________ _____________ (by being anxious, by worrying) can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matthew 6:27). What is the answer to this question? ___________________________

The word translated "stature" is used in two different ways. It often means "age" (John 9:21,23; Hebrews 11:11), but it can also mean "stature" (how tall a person is)--(see Luke 19:3). Let's think about which meaning best fits in Matthew 6:27 ("stature" or "age").

Which meaning best fits in this verse? Does it mean the height of a person’s body or the length of a person’s life? The answer is found in a parallel passage, Luke 12:25-26: "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature (or age) one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is ____________ why take ye thought for the rest?" Thus, Christ says that adding one cubit is doing what is LEAST (something very small and insignificant). IS IT A SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A PERSON TO GROW 18 INCHES? ______ Can adding half a yard to one’s height be called "LEAST"? ______ Would anyone really want to be a cubit taller, except possibly a dwarf or a child? _______ Would a grown man want to grow into a GOLIATH? _______

Do most people worry about how tall they will be or about how long they will live (compare 2 Kings 20:1-3)? _____________________________________ Do people usually worry about their LIFE or their HEIGHT (Matthew 6:25)? ____________________ Therefore the meaning that would make the most sense is that "stature" refers to living longer, not growing taller.

A cubit, which is normally used as a measurement of length, can also be used as a measurement of time. Sometimes when a person has a birthday, he will say, "Well, I have reached another milestone." The Psalmist speaks in similar terms in Psalm 39:4-5:

To lengthen a person’s life by a small amount is an insignificant thing, yet worry can never do this! If anything, worry SHORTENS life! A man might "worry himself to death" but he cannot worry himself to a longer, span of life. The length of our time on earth is in God’s hands. Our days will not be increased by worrying. Anxiety will never result in a longer, richer and fuller life.

1) What Should I Do Today, WORRY or WORK?

Worry is concern and anxiety over the future. We worry about what might happen tomorrow. Do we know what will really happen tomorrow (James 4:14; Proverbs 27:1)? _____ Who does know what will take place tomorrow (Isaiah 46:9-10; compare Mark 13:23; John 14:29; 16:3-4.)? _______ We do not know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future!

Please complete the following matching problem, as you consider two important days: 1) TODAY (this present moment which I can grasp and lay hold of) 2) TOMORROW (that future moment which lies ahead and out of reach):

1.	_______	The day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)
2.	_______	The time to listen to God (Hebrews 4:7)	A. TODAY
3.	_______	The time to seek God (Isaiah 55:6)	B. TOMORROW
4.	_______	The day most people worry about (Matthew 6:34)
5.	_______	The day many people foolishly waste (Proverbs 6:6-11)
6.	_______	The day in which we can work (1 Corinthians 15:58)
7.	_______	The day for which we can only wait (Acts 1:4)
8.	_______	The day of present opportunity (Ephesians 5:16)
9.	_______	The day of future uncertainty (Proverbs 27:1)
10.	_______	The day which may never arrive (Luke 12:19-20)

According to James 4:13-17, it is wrong and sinful to (circle the correct answer):

It is never wrong to plan for tomorrow today (see Proverbs 6:6-8; Genesis 41:33-37) but it is always wrong to worry for tomorrow today (Matthew 6:34).

Today’s cares are ENOUGH! How foolish to ADD tomorrow’s cares to those of today! Tackle today’s troubles, and let tomorrow take care of itself. The Lord does not give us strength to face tomorrow’s problems today. He gives us strength to face today’s problems today (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:11). The burden of tomorrow’s cares added to the load of today’s trouble is too much for any man to bear. According to Matthew 6:34 we must put all of our strength and energy and resources into solving today’s problems. If we WORK on tackling today’s troubles then we will not have time to WORRY about tomorrow’s troubles.

Suppose as a lumberman, your assignment is to cut down an entire forest. Instead of WORRYING about whether you will ever be able to complete the job, you begin WORKING on it. Pour all your strength and energy and effort into the work, and you will be amazed to see several tall trees fall down each day. Soon you will realize that the forest was not as big as you first thought it was. Before too long not a tree will remain standing.

The legend is told of one lumberman who worked in this way, giving his all to the job each day. Finally after weeks of hard work he reported back to his boss, "I finally finished cutting down the SAHARA FOREST." In fact, he did so well that they had to rename it! Remember, the man who removed the mountain had to start by carrying away small stones!

On the other hand, if the lumberman were to look at the entire forest, and if he were to begin to be anxious about how the job would ever get done, then he would be putting most of his energy and effort into WORRYING, instead of WORKING! How sad! Worry accomplishes nothing! Worry is unable to cut down even one tree! As the days advance, nothing is being done, the forest continues to stand, and the WORRY WORSENS! The Lord Jesus said we must not worry about tomorrow (whether the forest will be cut down)! We must trust God as we tackle today’s troubles! We must be so busy working on today’s problems that we have no time to worry about tomorrow!

(The class may think of other problems and how to tackle them by WORK rather than by WORRY.)

2) Casting My Cares on the Christ Who Cares

"Casting all your ____________ (worry, anxiety) upon Him; for He ________________ for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

1. What must I do with my care and worry (1 Pet. 5:7)? _______________________________________________________ The word "casting" means "to throw something upon something else." In Luke 19:35 the people threw their ___________________ upon the ________________. In 1 Peter 5:7 the believer is to throw his ____________ upon _____________________.

2. How much of my care and worry should I throw upon the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7)? ________

Imagine if you could hire one of your friends to do all of your worrying for you! It would be wonderful if he could handle all of your cares. Whenever a problem or difficulty should arise, all you would need to do is tell him about it, and he would worry about it for you! You would not have to worry about it at all! That would be his business. You would then be free to live as if you did not have a care or worry in the world! You have thrown all your care on another person. You do not even need to worry about how much money you should pay your friend for doing all your worrying for you. That is his worry! (Jay E. Adams, You Can Stop Worrying, p.3).

The Lord will not do your worrying for you, because GOD NEVER WORRIES about anything! Yet the Lord tells you to throw all your care upon Him. If you give your cares to the Lord and leave them with Him, then you will be free from worry! Let God carry your cares:

The burden of your cares is too great for you to bear! The worry and care will crush you unless you throw it all upon the Lord!

3. Why should you decide to throw your care and worry upon the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7)? __________________________________________________________________

God cares about you! God is concerned about you. It matters to God about you. It is a concern to Him about you. He ever cares and He never stops caring about you. HE CARETH FOR YOU!

Does God care for birds (Matt. 6:26)? ________
Does God care for lilies (Matt. 6:28)? ________
Does God care for sheep (Matt. 12:11-12)? ________
Does God care for oxen (1 Corinthians 9:9-10)? ________
Does God care for sparrows ((Matt. 10:29-31)? ________

Matthew 6:26: "Are you not much better than they?" ________
Matthew 12:12: "How much then is a man better than these?" _________
Matthew 10:31: "Are you not of more value than they?" ___________

Which would cause you the most concern and which would you care about the most? Losing a quarter or losing a twenty-dollar bill? ________________________________ Which is of more value? __________________________ If a person is concerned about losing a quarter, will he not be much more concerned about losing something of greater value? ______ How does this principle apply to Matthew 10:29,31?

God’s Loving Care

Example 1-Animals die all the time and we usually think nothing of it. Often we see dead animals by the side of the road, and we pay little attention to them. We do not place a great value and importance upon sparrows, but THE CREATOR DOES! Matthew 10:29 says that not one sparrow will ever ________ on the ______________ without the knowledge and consent (permission) and concern of God the Father. Sparrows are important to God! He created them! Who is much more important to the Lord (Matthew 10:31)? _____ If God watches over sparrows, will He not much more take care of your living and dying? ______

Example 2-"But the very __________ of your ___________ are ______________" (Matthew 10:30). On the average, the human head has about 140,000 hairs. If you do not believe this, count them for yourself! The Lord knows exactly how many hairs there are on your head! If you were to lose one hair (and several fall off each day), you would think nothing of it! But is God mindful of that hair? ________ Who is more concerned about that hair, you or God? ________Who is more concerned about the PERSON who lost the hair, you or God? _________ Does God care about you more than you care about yourself? _______ If one of your hairs is important to God, are not you as a PERSON much more important to Him? _______ If God cares about the hairs that you have, do you think He cares about the problems that you have? _______ If He is concerned about your HAIRS, is He not much more concerned about your CARES? Then, why worry?

If we would only believe that GOD CARES, then we would be free from worry. Believers often worry because they foolishly think the Lord does not care. Did the worried disciples think the Lord cared for them (Mark 4:38)? ______ What was their real problem (Mark 4:40)? ________________________ Was Martha anxious and worried (Luke 10:41)? _____ Did she believe the Lord cared (Luke 10:40)? ______ If you were a sheep under a hireling, would you have reason to worry (John 10:12-13)?______ If you are a sheep under a ___________ Shepherd (John 10:14), do you have any cause to worry (John 10:14-30; compare Psalm 23:1)? ___________ Can this Shepherd take care of His sheep? _______ Then, why worry? CAST ALL YOUR CARE ON THE SHEPHERD WHO CARES!!!

3) Why Worry When You Can Pray?

In this important verse, the Lord first tells us what we must not do, and then He tells us something that we must do:

(1) We Must Not Worry

In the days of the King James Bible (1611) the word "careful" meant anxious, full of worry and care (Luke 10:41). Today this word is used in a good sense, and it means "to exercise a healthy care and concern, to be cautious." Example: Young people (and older people) should he very careful about what kind of thoughts find their home in the mind (Phil. 4:8; Phil. 3:l9; Proverbs 23:7; Col. 3:1-2).

The believer is not to be CARELESS (without concern and caution, not thinking or watching what you say or do).

God tells us not to be careless in the way we live: "See, then, that ye walk __________________ (carefully), not as __________ but as ____________" (Ephesians 5:15). Have you ever seen a cat walk around and among delicate pieces of furniture? Cats are not careless. They walk circumspectly.

Philippians 4:6 is a command: "Be worrying about nothing!" In other words, we should not worry at all. To worry about NOTHING means to stop worrying about EVERYTHING! Why can the believer be free of care (1 Peter 5:7)? ____________________________________________

2) We Must Let Our Requests Be Made Known

Don’t worry, but pray! Let God know about your problems and your needs. Does the Lord already know about these things (Matt. 6:8)? _______ Does He want you to ask Him (Matt. 7:7)? _______ He knows before you ask, but He wants you to ask! He wants you to ask Him to take care of whatever you were worried about.

HOW (in what way) should my requests be made known? Our verse (Philippians 4:6) tells us five ways this is to be done:

I must worry about nothing, but I must pray about everything. In every situation and circumstance of life I can let my requests be made known. In every problem and difficulty I face, I can ask God to work it out. Prayer can be applied to any problem and to any and every situation.

Our requests are to be made known ______ _______. Our requests (those things that we ask for) are to be sent in a GODWARD DIRECTION. We must send our requests towards the ONE who can really do something about them. In the middle of our troubles, where can we look for help (Psalm 121:1-2; 124:8)? __________________________________________________

If we look in the wrong direction, then we are in trouble. If I look at my broken watch, then I will get all worried. If I look toward the watchmaker who can fix it, then I can relax because I know my watch is in good hands. Should a person look at his broken leg or should he look in the direction of the Doctor? ________________________________ Did Peter look in the right direction (Matt. 14:30)? _____ Did Stephen look in the right direction (Acts 7:55-56)? _____ Did Daniel look in the right direction (Daniel 6:10-11)? ______

How can I let my requests be made known? Philippians 4:6 says, BY PRAYER! This word "prayer" is used many times in the New Testament (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; 10:4; 12:5; Rom. 1:9; 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2,12; 1 Tim. 2:1; 5:5; etc.) and it always means "prayer TO GOD." When a believer prays, he must COME TO GOD, and the person who comes to God "must BELIEVE that ______ ______" (Hebrews 11:6). Often we pray and we fall to realize WHO IT IS that we are praying to! PRAYER should make a believer GOD-CONSCIOUS and GOD-DEPENDENT:

Very Conscious of Who God Is.
Keenly Aware of the Almighty One We Are Praying To.
Deeply Sensitive to God’s Person, Power and Presence.

I am unable. He is able!
I cannot. He can!
I do not understand. He does!
I am weak. He is strong!
I cannot solve my problems. God has the solution!

"WE HAVE NO M ____________, NEITHER _______________WE WHAT TO DO; BUT ________ ___________ _______ _________ __________"
(2 Chronicles 20:12).

Therefore, the cure for worry is PRAYER. When I have a problem I can be GOD-CONSCIOUS and GOD-DEPENDENT and I can COME TO GOD and BELIEVE that:

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT--He is able to solve my problem. Nothing is too hard for Him and no problem is too big (Gen 18:14; Luke 1:37). Through Him I can do all things (Phil. 4:13).

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT --As I face this problem He is with me and in me. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Deut. 31:6,8). He never asked me to solve the problem by myself. The Living God is my Helper (Hebrews 13:5-6; Isaiah 41:10).

GOD IS OMNISCIENT --He knows all about my problem and He knows its solution. Also He knows how much I can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

GOD IS WISE--He allowed this problem in my life because He knows what is best for me. He also knows the best solution.

GOD IS IMMUTABLE (NEVER CHANGES)--The same God that saved me (solved my biggest problem) is the same God who is able to help me in whatever problem I must face (compare Rom. 8:32). In other words, if He took care of my greatest problem (my need for salvation), then certainly He can take care of the lesser problems that I face day by day. The God that helped David, Daniel, Paul, etc. in their problems is the same God that is able to help me. I can always count on God being God (Heb. 13:8; Mal. 3:6).

GOD IS SOVEREIGN--He is in complete control of the situation. He is King of my life. He allowed this problem to come into my life and it is in His hands to do with it as He pleases (Psalm 115:3; Eph. 1:11).

GOD IS FAITHFUL--As I trust God for the solution to this problem He will not fail me (1 Cor. 10:13). His promises cannot fail. I can count on God in this situation (2 Cor. 1:20).

GOD IS TRUE--I can claim the promises in God’s Word because God does not and cannot lie (Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18). What He says, that will He do!

GOD IS ETERNAL--As I view my problem in light of eternity, it becomes quite insignificant (Deut. 33:27; Isaiah 57:15).

GOD IS BIG--God is much bigger than my problem! Often I look at my problem and it seems too BIG. It is really an anthill, but it looks like a mountain! ("I worry, I putter, I push and shove, hunting little molehills to make MOUNTAINS of.") To God, it is not big at all, and He is not at all worried about it. A little girl once prayed, "Help me, Lord, at the dentist's office, even if it hurts!" To her, going to the dentist was an enormous problem. As we grow older, we discover that going to the dentist is not a very big problem at all. It has become something quite routine. I am like that little girl. My problem seems enormous to me, but to an ENORMOUS GOD, it is no problem at all. If my problem were bigger than God, then I could worry! If God is bigger than my problem, then why worry?

GOD IS LOVE--God wants to communicate Himself to me in this problem. In the middle of this problem, God wants the highest and the best for me! God is concerned for MY GOOD ALWAYS (Deut. 6:24). There is no problem, no matter how great, that can separate me from His love (Romans 8:35-39).

GOD IS GOOD--In the midst of my problem and difficulty, God wants to bless me. He wants to make me more like HIS SON (Romans 8:28-29). He wants to transform the problem into a blessing!

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS--In allowing this problem to come into my life, God did what was right. God makes no mistakes! He is never wrong! See Genesis 18:25.

GOD IS JUST--God is absolutely fair in all that He does, including sending this problem my way.

Application: The students may want to think of some actual problems which they may someday face or which they are now facing. How can these problems be solved BY PRAYER (by coming to God in light of WHO HE IS)?

Examples of possible problems: 1) Suppose you were to become seriously ill. 2) Suppose your teacher gave you what seemed to be an impossible homework assignment in math. You try your best to do it, but it seems too difficult. 3) Suppose your car (assuming you are old enough to drive) breaks down in the middle of nowhere, you are not able to fix it, and there is no one around to help.

I must also let my requests be made known BY SUPPLICATION. This word "supplication" involves a person’s NEED. A person with problems has some very real needs:

1.	______ He needs God’s amazing ABILITY.	A. Heb. 13:6; 4:16; Ps. 46:1
2.	______ He needs God’s abundant SUPPLY.	B. Phil. 4:19
3.	______ He needs God’ supernatural STRENGTH.	C. Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 23:2-3
4.	______ He needs God’s unlimited WISDOM.	D. Heb. 13:20-21; Phil. 2:12-13
5.	______ He needs God’s timely HELP.	E. Phil. 4:13
6.	______ He needs God’s sufficient GRACE.	F. James 1:5
7.	______ He needs God’s loving CARE.	G. 1 Peter 5:7
8.	______ He needs God’s inner WORKING.	H. Eph. 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:1
9.	______ He needs God’s encouraging COMFORT.	I. 2 Cor. 1:3-5
10.	______ He needs God’s sure GUIDANCE.	J. 2 Cor. 9:8; 12:9

A prayer of supplication is a specific prayer for a specific need. The believer must tell God exactly what his problem is (BE SPECIFIC!). What really is the problem? What is it that you have been worrying about? The Lord wants you to recognize your particular need. When you let your requests be made known to God, BE SPECIFIC! Tell the Lord exactly what is troubling your heart.

Did Bartimaeus cry out to God with a specific need (Mark 10:51)? _______ Did Paul (2 Cor. 12:8)? ______ Did the early church (Acts 12:5)? ______ Did Hannah (1 Sam. 1:11)? _______ Did Paul (Rom. 10:1)? ________

Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings; it can never rise to heaven. The giving of thanks is an expression of FAITH. God is able to take care of my problem and He is able to work out whatever I was worried about. I believe this, and therefore I say, "Thank You!" When I really say "Thank You" from my heart, then I really believe that God will work out my problem for His glory and for my good (Romans 8:28). Remember, worry and faith cannot live together.

In light of Philippians 4:6, how should the trusting believer let his requests be made known? This should be done in these five ways (as we have already studied):

	He should let his requests be made known IN EVERYTHING.
IN EVERY PROBLEM, SITUATION, AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE: Whatever is bothering you, bring it to God. "Casting all your care upon Him" (1 Pet. 5:7).

	He should let his requests be made known UNTO GOD.
IN A GODWARD DIRECTION: We tend to talk to others about our problems and our worries, but should we not go first to God? The problem should drive us to the God who is greater than any problem we will ever face.

	He should let his requests be made known BY PRAYER.
PRAYER IS COMING TO GOD IN LIGHT OF WHO HE IS. Bend your heart to a great God.

	He should let his requests be made known BY SUPPLICATION.
BRINGING MY SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PROBLEMS TO GOD, telling God exactly what is on my heart.

	He should let his requests be made known WITH THANKSGIVING.
"Thank You, Lord, for taking care of me. I BELIEVE You will work out my problem. It is now in Your hands!"

If you OBEY Philippians 4:6 (as illustrated above), what will be the result (see Philippians 4:7)? ______________________________________________________________________ "PEACE" may be defined as "a quiet and calm state of mind, untroubled, freedom from worry and care." The person who has the "peace of Christ" (John 14:27) is the person whose heart is not T___________________ (John 14:27).

Is it possible to have peace in the midst of problems? Can a person be untroubled in a troubled world (John 16:33)? _______ The Bible gives us many examples of men who had God’s peace in the middle of problems. In each of the examples given below, 1) Tell what the problem was; 2) Tell what the normal human reaction would be; 3) Tell what the unusual reaction was. The first example is already done for you:

Truly, this is a PEACE which "P_______________ A______
U ___________________________" (Philippians 4:7)!

Is It Ever Right To Worry?

We have been studying about an UNHEALTHY care and concern, which we usually call WORRY. But there is also a HEALTHY care and concern which the Lord wants His children to have. God wants us to be very concerned about something. Indeed, there is ONE THING that God wants us to worry about:

Was Martha worried about this ONE THING, or was she worried about MANY THINGS (Luke 10:41-42)? ________________________ If a believer is worried about this ONE THING, will he need to worry about anything else? ______ The Lord Jesus spoke about the problem of worry in Matthew 6:25-34. What is the ONE THING that the Lord Jesus wants us to worry about (Matthew 6:33)? _______________________________ If we worry about this one thing, will He take care of all our other problems (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19)? _____ To be FREE FROM WORRY we must worry about PLEASING THE KING TODAY (Matt. 6:33-34)! Being pleasing to the Lord is to be the believer’s greatest concern (2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:10)!

Should the Unsaved Worry?

The unbeliever (the person who is lost and outside of Christ) has much to worry about. He is in real trouble and his life is in great danger. Here are just some of the things that the unsaved person should worry about (MATCHING):

1.	_____	God's Judgment	A. Matthew 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9.
2.	_____	God's Wrath	B. Luke 16:26; Revelation 22:11.
3.	_____	God's Death Penalty	C. Luke 23:40; Jude 4.
4.	_____	God's Eternal Punishment	D. Romans 1:18; 9:22.
5.	_____	God's Condemnation	E. Romans 2:3; 1 Peter 4:17-18.
6.	_____	God's Vengeance	F. Romans 1:32; 6:23.
7.	_____	God's Lake of Fire	G. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Thess. 2:10.
8.	_____	Hopelessness	H. 2 Thess. 1:8; Romans 12:19.
9.	_____	Perishing Condition	I. Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13.
10.	_____	Fixed Destiny (no second chance after death)	J. Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8.

CHAPTER 1