The Entrepreneur's BattleSample

Worry: Acknowledging What’s There

It’s hard to talk about worry with entrepreneurs because for us it’s almost a way of life. There’s no way to start a business without experiencing some form of anxiety. Worry is in the very nature of entrepreneurship. It’s less a question of are you worried about anything and more of what do you do with all the things you’re worried about?

That’s why this verse is so helpful. Peter doesn’t even bother with asking if anyone struggles with anxiety or worry. “Cast all your anxiety on him…” There’s a reason this verse doesn’t say, “If you ever experience anxiety, here’s what to do…” No, it acknowledges the fact that anxiety and worry are real, that everyone experiences them, and that there’s a solution.

Isn’t that refreshing? Worry is a tricky subject because on the surface it seems at odds with the Christian life. If we believe in a God who is in complete control over all things, then what could we possibly have to worry about? The guilt that comes from this type of thinking only makes our anxiety that much worse.

That’s why Peter is the perfect person to give us this message. Remember, this is the man who stepped out of a boat to walk on water toward Jesus. But that’s only part of the story. When he walked on water, he started to drown. Even with the face of Christ right there, Peter got worried. He got nervous, and he started to sink.

So, his advice comes from personal experience: reach out to God. It’s the same thing he did when he found himself sinking a moment after walking on water. He cried out to Jesus and asked for help. And guess what? Jesus grabbed his hand and pulled him up. Why? Because He cares. That’s it!

It takes humility to ask for help. It takes an awareness that we can’t do it on our own. But if we’re seeking freedom from worry—and from depression, image management, loneliness, and sexual brokenness—we have to be willing to reach out. We have to be willing to put our entrepreneurial pride aside for a moment, and we have to let God love us and let others help us.

It starts by acknowledging what’s there. Peter didn’t wonder if anxiety was a thing. He had experienced it and he knew others had as well. So, he called it out. We can do the same. We can recognize the things in our life that make us feel anxious, and we can refute them mentally and verbally with truth.

And the truth is this: God is bigger. The hand of worry that threatens to drag us down is infinitely weaker than the hand of Christ that offers to help us up. Acknowledge your worry is there, address it for what it is, and accept the help of others.

Further Thought

• When was the last time you felt anxious or worried? What do you do to help deal with those feelings?
• What’s one way you could ask for help when you find yourself feeling anxious? Is there a prayer or verse you could turn to?
• Write down an encouraging verse, or a verse that gives you peace, and put it somewhere you can see it often. How does that help you address your worry?
• Who is someone in your life that you need to talk to about one of these issues? When’s the next time you can see that person?

If you enjoyed this reading plan, explore other resources for Faith Driven Entrepreneurs.