“It’s too hard.”

“I just can’t cope with this.”

“Too many people around me in this room. I need to get out of here.”

You know the feeling. The feeling of dread. It’s a common struggle for many people. Our society seems to live on the edge of troubling worry. You read bad news on the phone, on the TV.

It tends to be all around us and it enclosed us like a shadow.

How does one cope with all of these anxieties and worries in life?

The Bible gives us the simple word to fight worry: Don’t.

But it’s hard, isn’t it. We have to be reminded that we don’t have anything to worry or be anxious about. We read a constant refrain in the Bible: Don’t worry. For example, Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

We are reminded that when we are burdened, worried, and anxious, we can cast the burden on God.

He gives us the hope, strength, and confidence to make it through anything that brings anxiety.

Jim Erwin is the pastor at Washburn 1st Baptist Church, located at 618 N. 2nd St. in Washburn. He may be reached at 417-826-5000.