Why is worrying and anxiety considered a sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jump4Joy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
It’s not usually considered a sin. Where did you get the idea that it was?

Worrying and anxiety can be
  • legitimate if you have something serious to worry about, such as a serious illness of yourself or your loved one
  • a psychological condition requiring mental health care if it is excessive and interferes with your life
  • a behavioral problem where you simply need to learn to respond to stress in a different way or take better steps to solve your concerns about your life
  • caused in whole or in part by lack of sleep, poor nutrition, consuming something that’s not good for you (like alcohol) or other physical habits
I spent half the day having anxiety myself, partly because I did not eat a good lunch and I recently had an upsetting event that disrupted my life. I don’t feel like I committed a sin.
 
Last edited:
Lack of trust in God is something that we should work on, but again, it is not necessarily a sin.
If you just lost your job and you are worrying how you are going to pay the rent and feed your children and basically keep from ending up in the shelter with your family, yes you should work on trusting God, but 99 percent of people aren’t going to just say “oh OK I won’t worry about a thing, I have confidence in God to fix this for me”.
 
Last edited:
Some people show they care by worrying. It can be suffocating honestly. I wallow in the past a lot, I’m not sure if this is a sin but it sounds counter productive
 
If you are not sure if something is a sin, the best course of action is to discuss it with your confessor.
It’s not very helpful to discuss or ask about it here because you’ll get 100 different answers and none of us is your confessor so it doesn’t matter.
 
I hope you are doing better anxiety is horrible I pray it passes for you!
 
Yes, it’s advised, and I try to follow that advice, but actually doing it takes a lot of practice and work.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t try, but if you fall short of the mark, it’s because you’re human, and not a saint yet.
 
'So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or 'What are we to wear?‘All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, * and all these things will be given you besides.Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.’ Matt 6:31-34
 
Does that mean even if I do nothing God will provide all of those?
 
How do you deal with family members who express their love through worrying?
 
despair is a sin, worrying/anxiety isn’t. i mean jesus was so wrought with stress in the garden he started sweating blood
 
No it means that the priority in life should be to do God’s will. It is also a call to trust in God.
 
If it’s your parents, they are going to worry so just accept it and know they love you.

I moved out of their house and that kinda solved it to be honest
 
Jump4Joy said:
Some people show they care by worrying. It can be suffocating honestly. I wallow in the past a lot, I’m not sure if this is a sin but it sounds counter productive
Click to expand...
Yes, “sin” in the sense that we are missing the mark - not hitting the bullseye on what God intends for us.
Tis_Bearself said:
Yes, it’s advised, and I try to follow that advice, but actually doing it takes a lot of practice and work.

That’s not to say we shouldn’t try, but if you fall short of the mark, it’s because you’re human, and not a saint yet.
Click to expand...
I think this is the critical part. We must always be seeking the ideal, perfect trust. Each time we find ourselves giving in to worry, we need to re-orient ourselves. You are right that it is a lot of practice and work - spiritual disciplines. It never helps to beat up on ourselves when we fall short in discipline. We just need to get up and start again.
Struggling1 said:
Does that mean even if I do nothing God will provide all of those?
Click to expand...
No, I don’t think it means that at all. He calls us to seek first His Kingdom, and trust that they will be added. Seeking first the Kingdom is a lot of work!
Jump4Joy said:
How do you deal with family members who express their love through worrying?
Click to expand...
I thank them for caring, and move on.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top