Encouragement

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Anxiety And Worry
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Finally, Army Basic Training was just about over for Privates Jeffrey Bolton, Kirk Hoster, and Courtney Pierce. Because their training platoon had taken every Company level award, their unit was rewarded with a free day. The soldiers sat in the dining facility celebrating their weeks of training each with a tray full of breakfast items, juices and Army coffee. Though the coffee was never the kind of coffee sang about in their “Jody Call—THEY SAY THAT IN THE ARMY THE COFFEE’S MIGHTY FINE. IT LOOKS LIKE MUDDY WATER AND TASTES LIKE TURPENTINE.”

“In a couple of days, we’re gonna graduate and they’ll more than likely send us to separate posts for our specialty training. This means we may never see each other again,” lamented Private Hoster. “I think we’re great together. I’d like to be around you guys because you’re both great and great friends, too!”

“Yeah, I’m gonna miss you guys but you don’t have to worry about keeping in contact. We can still keep in touch. There’s e-mail, Skype, text messaging,” suggested Private Pierce. “Hey, Kirk, you worry too much! When I was in college, I learned in my Psychology class that those who worry a lot are often self-centered or overly involved in self-centered activity at the least.”

“I don’t think so. When I worry, I don’t worry about things that pertain to me. I mostly worry about how my mom, dad, brother and sisters are doing; my high school friends and neighbor friends; the cost of food; the cost of gasoline; rising taxes. It’s most that kind of stuff.”

“Kirk, I’m not tryin’ to put you down. We’ve been a great friend throughout Basic Training. Everything you’ve just listed is subjects of worry. Don’t you know when one worries, it’s based on anxiety? Anxiety leads to worry and inhibits positive thought. It also inhibits positive action as well as keeps us from depending on God. You’re saying: ‘I’m in control not You God. Or I’m tough and don’t need your help God! So that’s why worry is mostly self centered fear because we want to be in control but we know we can’t be. All we can do is do our best then let God handle the rest.”

“Kirk, you know Courtney has a point,” Private Bolton responded. “Say Courtney, you seem to do okay with Psychology. How come you didn’t finish college?”

“Didn’t have enough money and I don’t want to borrow a lot of money to get through college. So I joined the Army to help pay for it.”

While Private Pierce discussed worrying and anxiety, Private Hoster thought about what she had said to him. Prior to his discussion with Private Pierce, Private Hoster thought of worry as a positive and noble activity with its focus on others and other things. Worry, he thought, was not about the self or me.

“Perhaps you’re right. Maybe that’s why I have headaches and stomach problems. It seems to happen when I worry. I wonder if I’m the only one who is a worry wart.”

“Nah! I bet we all do it. I’m pretty sure of that! We all fail, at some point, to put our trust in God to help us get through life.”

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