Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church has often encouraged Christians not to worry. This time, he is urging people not to lose sleep over things they can't do anything about.
"You may be facing an illness. You can't make yourself get well," he writes on his blog. "Of course, do what you can. Use common sense. But at some point, you have to turn it over to God and say, 'Lord, I trust You to bring the healing. In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy my life.'"
Osteen says worrying does not help people heal, and in fact, studies have shown that people who live stressful and uptight lives actually suffer from weaker immune systems.
"Come back to a place of peace. Or, maybe you have people in your life who are not making good decisions. You can't make people do what's right. Don't let their poor choices sour your life. You have to protect your peace," says Osteen.
Instead of wasting 20 years of one's life worrying about someone else, Osteen suggests that people should just cast their worries over to God. "If you'll let go and live at rest, then God will do what you can't do. In His own way, in His own timing, He'll make things happen. As long as you're honouring God and being your best, then you can rest," he assures.
There will be people who adamantly refuse to give up their worrying habits, says Osteen, but he is asking them: "If God isn't changing your circumstances yet, what makes you think you can change them in your own strength?"
Besides, Osteen says people have their own destinies to fulfill, and they need all of their energy, wisdom, and creativity "to become all God's created you to be."
"Don't waste effort trying to change things that only God can change. Your load will get a whole lot lighter if you'll turn it over to Him and enter into His rest," he says.
