FROM THE EDITORS October 16, 2006 Issue

YOU OVERCOME WORRY WHEN YOU BEGIN ACKNOWLEDGING AND TRUSTING THAT NOTHING IS OUTSIDE OF GOD'S LOVING CONTROL.

NOT A DROPLET OF WORRY

"WORRY OFTEN GIVES a small thing a big shadow," goes an old Swedish proverb, which relates to the observations of Dr. Edward Hallowell in his book Worry: Controlling It and Using It Wisely. Exploring what he calls an epidemic of worry in the United States, Hallowell estimates that one in four Americans (close to 75 million) will meet the criteria for anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. More than 50 percent of Americans are what he describes as chronic worriers. And, of course, worry isn't exclusively an American concern.

But this kind of nervous preoccupation is hardly a modern phenomenon. Christ Jesus addressed this condition more than 2,000 years ago when he visited two sisters, Mary and Martha, in their home in Bethany. Martha, with one eye on her sister, was extremely busy preparing food. Mary, contrary to Jewish custom, sat at Jesus' feet listening intently to every word he spoke.

According to the New International Version of the Bible, when Martha implored Jesus to tell Mary to help her, Jesus said gently: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (emphases added, Luke 10:41, 42). Jesus had identified what has troubled humanity for centuries—the burden of everyday circumstances and responsibilities that tempt people to be anxious and afraid. And in his teaching, Jesus openly invited his listeners to come to him with their burdens and find calmness and renewal (see Matt. 11:28).

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