Worry is blind

Ask old people what they regret in life.

Karl Phillemer did. Know what he found out? The most common response was surprising.

I regret worrying and fretting about the future.

Don't believe that worrying will solve or help anything. It won't. So stop it.

Makes me think of a couple quotes from one of my favorite authors:

Worry is blind and cannot discern the future.

It is not work that kills; it is worry.

I'm as good a worry wart as there is. So I have a vested interest in finding a solution to the worry problem. Dr. Phellemer lists three:

Live for the day. Don't look down the road to borrow possible trouble. That reminds me a scripture: "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Prepare. Sometimes we have legitimate reasons to be concerned. When you start to worry or feel anxious about something, put on your analyst hat. Determine whether your concern is realistic. If you live in a hurricane zone, you have every reason to be aware and prepare. If you make $60,000 a year and are worried about money, see a financial counselor. Revamp your budget. Eat more meals at home. Make concrete plans to prepare for or resolve a concrete problem.

But what if you determine your worry is baseless? What if you're stressed out just because? What if you're filled with anxiety about future unknowns? Or what if you have legitimate concerns but the solution is way beyond your ability to solve. "Acceptance is an antidote to worry," says Dr. Phellemer.

Let it be. Sages and musicians have advised the same. Richard Carlson wrote a book entitled, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and it's all small stuff." It gives practical tips for dealing with anxiety, worry, and stress. I have also found that happy music helps me cope with life and it's worries. Here are a few links for your listening pleasure:

Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

Won't Worry 'bout a Thing by Jay Stocker

See what I did there? I threw in a song you've likely never heard before. It's one of my new favorites. Learned it during this year's Vacation Bible School. I think it carries an essential message. It tells us why there's no need to worry. I think there is a fourth solution to needless worry.

Trust God. “Every tomorrow has two handles," wrote Henry Ward Beecher. "We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” Take your worries and troubles to

God. It's sound biblical advice.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Faith in a higher power helps people fight addiction, cope with worry, and find joy in each day. It's true. Sigmund Freud and others have said that God is an illusion. But even Freud noted that belief in God provides comfort to people. Analysis of more than 1,200 studies and 400 reviews found that faith has mental and physical health benefits.

I have proved for myself the benefits of trusting in God, one of which is coping with worry. And why should I trust Him? Why should you trust Him? Because he cares.

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Take your worry to the Lord, and leave it there.

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7