NearnessSample

We live in an anxious world. Anxiety is a complex issue, and so I think we need to be careful with Proverbs like this one. Here, it is referring to the general anxiety that all people experience, not specifically to those who experience anxiety to a higher degree, or have a diagnosis of anxiety. Personally, I find the word “worry” is a bit more helpful here.

Worry weighs down the heart. What is worrying you right now? Does it make you feel nauseous, unsure, or unclear? Do you find it consuming your thoughts, time, and mental energy? When I start to unpack these types of worries, I feel like I’m spiraling downwards. One worry leads to another, and it can really feel like a physical weight.

What can we say to people when they are sinking into worry like this? It can be tempting to try and fix it— to come up with solutions, or to offer advice. Sometimes it's tempting to tell people to just snap out of it, or trust God more. Or, sometimes, we sit and wallow in it too.

But the wisdom in the book of Proverbs doesn’t tell us to do any of this. No, this Proverb gives us this advice: offer a kind word. A bit of encouragement or kindness is like a ray of sunshine coming down into the weight. Sometimes that’s all it takes to snap someone out of the whole cycle.

And of course, some of the most encouraging words you can offer are those that echo the love of Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) says: “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares about you.” That’s not to remind someone to have more faith, or work harder, but to remind them that God cares for them.

Today, ponder this: How can you encourage someone in your life that is worried or anxious in a way that helps them to feel loved and cared for?