克服憂慮的秘訣

你是否習慣預期最壞的事會發生？當你收到一封來自國稅局的信，或者當你聽到可能要裁員的謠言，你就會恐慌？甚至沒有任何事可憂慮時，你是否還是因為認為不好的事即將要發生而憂慮？

憂慮worry古英文的意思是「窒息或壓抑」。這的確就是憂慮對你的生產力與快樂造成的影響。憂慮只是打擊自己且浪費時間的事。

在聖經新約馬太福音6章25-34節記錄了耶穌有名的登山寶訓。耶穌提出四個不要憂慮的理由，也提供兩個秘訣去克服憂慮：

憂慮是不合理的。為了無法改變的事憂慮是沒有用的。為了可以改變的事而憂慮則是愚昧的！而每次你溫習腦中的憂慮，它就變得更大更重。憂慮會誇張地放大問題。「不要為生命憂慮吃什麼，喝什麼；為身體憂慮穿什麼。生命不勝於飲食嗎﹖身體不勝於衣裳嗎﹖」（馬太福音6章25節）。

憂慮是不自然的。你不是天生就會憂慮，那是生活中學來的反應。事實上，你是練習了許多次才變得很會憂慮。幸運的是，我們也可以學習不憂慮。上帝所創造的萬物中只有人類會憂慮，因為我們不相信祂會眷顧我們。「你們看那天上的飛鳥，也不種，也不收，也不積蓄在倉裡，你們的天父尚且養活他。你們不比飛鳥貴重得多嗎﹖」（馬太福音6章26節）。

憂慮是沒有幫助的。憂慮沒有效果，它無法改變過去，也無法掌控未來，它只會使你今天很痛苦。為一個問題憂慮絕對解決不了問題。「你們那一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢？」（馬太福音6章27節）。

憂慮是沒有必要的。上帝已應許會眷顧你，若你在生活的每個細節上都信靠祂，就像一個小孩向父親要午餐的錢，你從來不必擔心那錢從哪裡來，那是祂的問題。讓上帝成為你生活中的神！「你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的」（馬太福音6章32節）。

我們如何脫離憂慮的習慣！

首先，在你生活的每個層面都信靠上帝。我們會憂慮的部份原因是我們知道生活中有許多因素是我們無法掌控的。憂慮好像是我們有在做事，但事實上那是浪費我們在理智和情緒上的精力。信靠掌權的上帝就可讓我們脫離這重擔。「你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的。你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了」（馬太福音6章32-33節）。

第二，活在當下。我們常花時間為明天或下週可能發生的事而痛苦，卻不去看今天的挑戰已逼近我們。專注在「發生什麼事」，而不要想「假如發生什麼事」。「所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。」（馬太福音6章34節）。

思想 / 討論題目
你是否是一個容易憂慮的人，花過多的時間擔心現在和未來可能發生的事？為什麼？ 上一次憂慮幫助你解決所面對的問題是什麼時候？當一個問題出現時，思想有什麼可能的步驟去解決它是合理的，但憂慮是「可能的步驟」嗎？請解釋。 你認為華理克對停止憂慮的建議是否切實際？ 作者談到憂慮的哪一點對你最有幫助？對於耶穌談到有關憂慮的話語，你有何看法？
註：若你有聖經，請參考有關此議題的其他經文：
詩篇46篇1-3節，118篇5-7節；以賽亞書36章34節，41章10節；腓立比書4章6-7節；彼得前書5章7節；提摩太後書1章7節；約翰一書4章18節

SECRETS OF OVERCOMING WORRY
By: Rick Warren

Do you tend to expect the worst? Do you panic when you get a letter with the government tax service address imprinted on the envelope, or when you hear rumors about possible layoffs at work? Do you find yourself worrying even when there is nothing to worry about – convinced something bad is about to happen that you will need to worry about?

The word worry comes from an old English word meaning, "to choke or strangle.” Of course, that’s exactly what worry does to your productivity and happiness. Worry is nothing but a self-defeating waste of time.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount in the Bible”s New Testament, as recounted in Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus presented four reasons for not worrying and also provided two secrets of overcoming it:

WORRY IS UNREASONABALE. To worry about something you CANNOT change is useless. To worry about something you CAN change is stupid! And every time you review a worry in your mind it gets bigger and more burdensome. Worry amplifies problems out of proportion. "Don’t worry about the clothes you need. Life is more than what you wear" (Matthew 6:25).

WORRY IS UNNATURAL. You were not born a worrier. It is a learned response to life. In fact, you have to practice to become good at it. Fortunately, worry can be unlearned. The only species in God’s creation that worries is human beings. We do not believe God will take care of us. "Birds don’t worry but God takes care of them. Don’t you realize you’re more valuable to God than mere birds?" (Matthew 6:26).

WORRY IS UNHELPFUL. It does not work. It cannot change the past. It cannot control the future. It only makes you miserable today. Worrying about a problem never solves the problem. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27).

WORRY IS UNNECESSARY. God has promised to take care of you if you will trust him with the details of your life. As a child, if you asked your father for lunch money, you never worried about where it would come from. That was his problem. Let God be God in your life! "God will take care of you, just have faith” (Matthew 6:32).

HOW CAN WE FREE OURSELVES FROM THE WORRY HABIT?

First, trust God with every area of your life. Part of our problem in worrying is the realization that there are so many factors in life that we cannot control. Worrying might seem like we are doing something, but in fact it is wasted mental and emotional energy. Trusting God, who is in control, frees us of this burden. "Your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well what you need and he will provide it if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to" (Matthew 6:32-33).

Second, live just one day at a time. So often we spend time agonizing over what could happen tomorrow or next week, while the challenges of today are still looming over us. Focus on the what, not the what if. "Do not worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. It has been named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He also has written The Purpose of Christmas.

Reflection/Discussion Questions
Would you describe yourself as a worrier, someone who spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about present – and possible future – concerns? Why or why not? When was the last time that worrying helped to resolve a problem you were facing? When a problem arises, it makes sense to take whatever steps are possible to address it – but is worrying part of those “possible steps”? Explain your answer. Do you think that Dr. Warren”s counsel to stop worrying is realistic, or even practical? Which of the points about worry that he makes seem most helpful for you? What is your reaction to the statements that Jesus made about worrying?NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that relate to this topic:
Psalm 46:1-3, 118:5-7; Isaiah 36:3, 41:10; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18