Are You A Worrier Or A Warrior?

Are you a warrior or a worrier? There is a major distinction between the two. One overcomes the enemy and the other is overcome BY the enemy.

I’m am not attacking your care for others. You can care about and for others without “worrying” about and for them. There is a care that is void of anxiety and worry.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]”  (1 Peter 5:6-9)

We all have cares in this life. But we don’t have to live a life chained to those cares. Sometimes we let the cares of life and the cares and worries we have for other people in our life weigh us down (Think of the old “ball and chain” used in early modern history for prisoners. Literally a chain was attached to the prisoner’s leg with a very heavy ball made of solid iron attached to the other end. The whole purpose being to hinder the prisoner’s ability to walk!).

We have a real threat to our walk with Christ. And that threat comes from Satan and his cohorts, but the attacks manifest in our lives in different ways. One of the sneakiest schemes of the enemy is to get you to “fall” into worry and anxiety so you will miss being “caught up” by Christ (in the gathering of the saints).

A great example of this is the Parable of the Sower. Jesus speaks of one account where the seed being sown fell into the midst of thorns and the thorns came up and choked out the seeds. He explains it in this manner:

“And the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit.” (Matthew 13:22)

How sad to have had the seed of life planted, but then for it to be “choked out” because of worry and distraction. Yet there are many Christians going through this daily. They have no real victory in their lives and often suffer much heartache and grief because they know the truth but don’t live it.

I am not here condemning anyone. I am here speaking from experience. I lived my first few years as a Christian constantly troubled in my spirit by worry and anxiety. I loved God and I believed in Jesus and had received the Holy Spirit, yet I was oppressed by the enemy because I didn’t trust God enough to cast my cares, worries, and anxieties on Him. 

To oppress means to load or burden with unreasonable impositions; to treat with unjust severity, rigor or hardship; as, to oppress a nation with taxes or contributions; to oppress one by compelling him to perform unreasonable service; to overpower; to overburden; as, to be oppressed with grief; to sit or lie heavy on. Oppression is an often-used tool of the enemy and it doesn’t require a lot of effort on his part to operate it in our lives. We tend to freely open the door to worry and anxiety when it comes knocking, not realizing it’s the enemy of our soul.

Here’s the real kicker. The enemy can only oppress you if you allow him to, meaning as Christians we have the power and authority to send the enemy away when he comes calling with temptations (***Jesus resisted temptation and rebuked Satan in the wilderness – Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13).

Often though, we fail to see worry as a tool of the enemy. I’m not saying that the occasional worrisome thought is a sin, but constant worry is a sin. Meaning you can’t stop the bird from flying over your head, but you can stop him from building a nest! Constant worry and anxiety means a lack of trust and faith in God. It also alludes to rebellion in that when you “act” in your worry to “help” someone or “prevent” something from happening, you have essentially put yourself in God’s place as sovereign. We are NOT in control of this world. We are NOT in control over people’s lives and futures. Often our attempts to “help” or “prevent” end up doing more damage. We can NOT do life apart from God and His help.

So here’s your choice. Are you going to be a worrier or a WARRIOR?

Listen, a warrior cares! If a warrior didn’t care, then they would no reason to fight. They would not prepare and train to fight so intensely for nothing. We tend to fight for what we care about.

Think about this, why did David fight Goliath? (1 Samuel 17)

I mean, David was a young man (really a boy) and not big and mighty in appearance, yet he ran up to Goliath proclaiming victory in God. David had a WARRIOR’s spirit and it was not devoid of care. He cared about people and his nation (even those who mocked him – his own brothers). He cared about the children of God. But he didn’t let the giant in his way bring worry and anxiety for himself and his people. He said to Saul “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32)

He trusted God! And he overcame the enemy because he cast his cares on God saying to Goliath “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

David choose to not fall into the anxiety of not being in control of the fate of others and himself. He “cast his cares” on God, Who alone is able to carry them, and Who alone is truly in control.

Jesus cares for us and yet not once in the scriptures does it mention Him “worrying” about us. The scriptures say that God loves us, has compassion on us, He is patient (longsuffering) towards us, He is faithful towards us ……………we could go on and on, but I hope you get the gist of it. It is only in God that we are free from the anxieties and worries that plague this world. It is only in the power of His Spirit that we are able to overcome those worries, ALL BECAUSE GOD CARES FOR US! And you know what? God is a good Father and He takes care of His children.

Throughout His word He tells us (commands us) to not fear, do not fret, do not worry.

God knows that worrisome things will happen, but He has already made a way for us to escape the worry, and that is by trusting in Him.

“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God’s word also tells us:

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

And finally, I pray you take this scripture to heart. This is the heart of every WARRIOR in Christ because it is only through Him that we can overcome.

Ephesians 6:10-18

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

I truly pray that this helps the worriers out there choose to take a stand against their worries, anxieties and cares by becoming mighty WARRIORS in the Lord. Jesus said “The thief (Satan) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." (John 10:10).

I encourage you to take hold of the abundant life that Jesus died to give you. He gave up His life so we could have a new life in Him free from the shackles of sin and death. It is only in Jesus that we have the strength and ability to resist the enemy’s temptations and schemes. We have the power and authority in Jesus’ name to tell Satan and his cohorts to “back off” and “leave us be.” Satan you have NO HOLD ON ME! Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Father God, I pray right now that the chains of worry, anxiety, and constant cares of this world begin to break off of your children who have read and taken this message to heart. We trust in You and our faith is in You alone. We thank You for Your perfect gift of salvation and for Your mighty WORD that guides, teaches, cleanses, corrects, encourages, and empowers us. Lord we gather together by Your Holy Spirit to give You all the praise and glory and we pray this prayer in the blessed name of Jesus, AMEN!

With love,

Kelly