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上一篇文章里，我谈过“敬虔的关切”和“忧虑”之间的分别。今天我们要把焦点放在“忧虑”上。

我们都知道什么是忧虑——基督徒也会忧虑——所以好像不太需要定义它。但有一点很重要：忧虑本质上是罪。有些人听到这句话，会觉得太重了，甚至觉得不够体谅人。但如果我们要真正面对忧虑，就必须先看清它的本质。所以，我们承认：忧虑的人确实是在受苦，但与此同时，忧虑本身也是罪。

忧虑的问题所在

1. 忧虑源于对神错误、残缺的认识

当我们对神的认识，不像圣经所启示的那样——完全良善、全然伟大——我们就会开始怀疑：祂真的知道我的处境吗？祂真的在乎到会出手帮助吗？祂真的有能力介入吗？

2. 忧虑反映内心的不信

这不是非信徒那种彻底的不信，而是信徒里面残留的不信。说白了，忧虑其实像是在对神说：“神啊，我知道祢是好意，但我不确定祢到底能不能搞定这件事。”

3. 忧虑也暴露内心的偶像

耶稣教导我们，要积攒财宝在天上，不是在地上。因为“你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在哪里。”我们的忧虑，常常显明我们地上的东西看作我们的财宝。而这些地上“有虫蛀，有锈侵蚀，也有贼挖洞来偷”。

4. 忧虑其实也是一种骄傲

忧虑就是一种“撇开神自己预测未来”。它常常反映的是一种心态：“这件事必须由我来解决。”

圣经给忧虑的人的帮助？

1. 在忧虑中抓住耶稣里的盼望

耶稣在福音书里多次谈到忧虑，其他圣经作者也一样。这本身就给我们盼望——说明忧虑是可以被处理的，不是无药可救的。我们有耶稣自己，有圣经里的应许，有圣灵的引导，也有教会的支持。所以，有盼望。但同时，也不要期待自己立刻完全没有焦虑。如果把“完全不焦虑”当作目标，反而容易灰心。我们该认定的目标是：在压力中继续认识神、爱神、讨神喜悦。

2. 为心中的不信和偶像悔改

做个自我反省：辨识出我最难相信神哪一点？

• 神知道什么对我最好。
• 神有能力成就最好的结果。
• 神愿意把最好的给我。
• 神必会赐下最好的。

同时，也问自己这些问题，找出内心的偶像：

• 我害怕得不到什么好东西？
• 我害怕会遭遇什么坏事？
• 我一直反复想、停不下来的是什么？

3. 用神的应许来对抗忧虑和害怕

神在基督里对你的爱与恩典，是你面对恐惧最稳固的根基。找出与你忧虑相关的经文，认真学习、背诵、默想，并选择相信。用尽各种方式把神的话存在心里。你可以把经文抄写或打印，放在手机主页、钱包卡片、贴在电脑的触摸板旁边——让自己随身携带，也随时能看到。一些普遍适用于忧虑的经文包括：罗马书 8:28–39；马太福音 6:25–34；诗篇 56:1–13；出埃及记 2:24。

4. 分清正当的关切与责任以内的事

画出、填写以下的“关切圈V.S.责任圈”图，帮你理清这两者。

比如：你为孩子祷告、教导他们认识神——这是你的责任。但他们是否得救——那是你关切的事，不是你能掌控的责任。你认真工作、尽忠职守——这在你的责任圈里。老板是否续约——那属于你关切圈范围以内，不是你能决定的。

分清这两者很重要。很多忧虑，其实来自把“关切的事”误当成“我必须负责的事”。因为神没有要你扛起那些本来不属于你的重量。

对于你真正关心的事，把它带到神面前，具体地祷告，交托给祂。对于神交给你的责任，就勇敢、认真地去做，并依靠祂的能力。

结语

别忘了，神也赐给你教会。把你的忧虑告诉弟兄姐妹。请他们为你祷告。教会能给你属灵上的劝勉，也能提供实际的支持和帮助。

腓立比书 4:4–9 帮助过很多忧虑的人。其中有一句极宝贵的应许，就是这五个字：“主已经近了。”这是空间上的“近” ——祂就在你身边。也是时间上的“近”——祂很快就要来。主已经近了。把你的重担卸给祂。不要一个人扛。

Walking Out of Worry

In a previous article, I wrote about the difference between godly concern and worry. Here, we want to put the spotlight on worry.

We all know what it is to worry – Christians can worry too – so a definition seems unnecessary. But it is important to point out that worry is sinful. To some, this statement seems excessive or uncompassionate. But we need to understand what worry is essentially to address it. So, without denying that worriers are sufferers, we recognize that worry is sin.

What’s Wrong With Worry?

1. Worry stems from a distorted, deficient view of God. When our view of God falls short of the unreservedly good and great God described in Scripture, we do not think that He knows our predicament, cares enough to act, or has power to intervene.
2. Worry expresses heart unbelief. This is not the total unbelief of a pagan, but the remnant unbelief of a true believer. It’s really saying, “God I know You mean well, but I’m not sure You can pull it off.”
3. Worry expresses heart idolatry. Jesus taught us to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, not on earth. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”. Our worries indicate that we are putting our treasures on earth, “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matt 6:19-21)
4. Worry is a form of pride. It is a form of prophecy (i.e. seeing the future) without God. It often reveals the mindset of wanting/having to solve our problems ourselves.  

Biblical Help for Worriers

1. Grasp on to hope in Jesus amid your worry. Jesus addressed worry at length in the Gospels, and so did the other biblical authors in their writings. That should give us hope that our worry is “operable”! Not only do we have Jesus Himself, we have the promises of the Bible, the Holy Spirit to guide us, and His church to support us. There is hope. At the same time, don’t expect to be rid of all anxiety, at least not immediately. Such a goal can discourage you. Seek to know, love, and please God amid your pressures.
2. Repent of unbelief and idolatry in your heart. Identify what attribute or promise of God you find hard to trust:

• God knows what is best for you.
• God is able to bring what is best for you.
• God wants what is best for you.
• God will give what is best for you.

Similarly, use these questions to help identify what idol you are treasuring in your heart:

• What good things do you fear you won’t get?
• What bad things do you fear you will get?
• What consumes you such that you obsess over it (think about it all the time)?

3. Counter your worries and fears with God’s promises. God’s love and grace for you in Christ is solid ground for your fight against your fears. Study, memorize, meditate on, and believe key Bible passages that address your specific worry or fear. By any means possible, store them up in your heart and mind. I recommend writing and printing a list of Bible verses in a form that you can take along and review easily (e.g. displayed on your phone home screen, a card in your purse, pasted next to the touchpad on your laptop…etc.). Some passages that are generally relevant to all worries include: Rom 8:28-39; Matt 6:35-34; Ps 56:1-13; Exod 2:24).

4. Sort out your legitimate concerns and God-given responsibilities. Drawing and filling in the “Circle of Concerns vs. Circle of Responsibilities” diagram below will help you sort out the two.

So, for instance, praying for your children and teaching them about God falls under your responsibility; their salvation falls in the Circle of Concerns. Fulfilling your duties at work diligently belongs to the Circle of Responsibilities; whether your boss decides to continue your contract belongs to the Circle of Concerns.

Sorting these out is important because worry often arises from confusing concerns with our responsibilities – specifically, treating concerns as if they were our responsibility (feeling that it’s on you to “fix” them). God does not intend for us to bear the weight of concerns that fall outside of our responsibilities.

For all legitimate concerns, entrust them to God by praying specifically about them. Trust God to be and do what He has guaranteed. For God-given responsibilities, pursue them boldly, diligently, with dependence on His power.  

Conclusion

With all that said, don’t forget that God has given you His church. Speak about your worries to your brothers and sisters. Ask for their prayer. The church can offer biblical counsel, support structures, and practical help.

Philippians 4:4-9 is a passage that has helped many worriers. A precious promise give to us in these verses consists of these four words: “The Lord is near”. He is near you, both spatially (He is by your side) and temporally (He is coming soon). The Lord is near. Roll your burdens onto Him. Don’t carry them alone.