I spent a good chunk of June and July writing the story you’ll find below. To be honest, I usually don’t take that much time, but this was a feature story I was asked to write for The Banner (a publication of the Christian Reformed Church). The requested topic was…
“Do Not Worry.”
And so, of course, I worried.
What would I say?
Would I finish it by the deadline?
How would it land with readers?
Obviously, I was no stranger to the topic of worry. I assume you’re not either. But writing this story taught me a few things. Maybe it will help you too.
This story was first published in TheBanner.org on October 13, 2025 and in the November, 2025 print issue of The Banner. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Filling our Worry Boxes with Peace
I don’t remember where we first heard of the concept of a “Worry Box,” but it was an apt analogy for the worrying tendencies around our home. While I’m typically an optimist—always hopeful and looking on the bright side—my husband balances me out with his concern over things that could go wrong.
People who have a Worry Box become uncomfortable when it’s empty. As soon as one concern is quelled, they’ll find another to take its place. They often have many worries in their box at once, and things get rough—especially for the optimists they live with—when that box is overflowing.
The Worry Box became our lighthearted way of dealing with my husband’s tendency to fret.
“Now that we’ve replaced the furnace, the next thing that’s going to set us back is the roof,” he’d say.
I’d smile. “Well, at least you have something to put in your Worry Box. You wouldn’t want it to be empty!”
While on our way to a party, “Do you hear that noise coming from the back of the car? I think something is loose.”
“Put it in your worry box,” I’d say.
While I rib my husband about his Worry Box and call myself an optimist, I’m really no stranger to worry. However, the concerns that weigh on my mind differ from those of my husband. My worries are less about the responsibilities of home maintenance, mechanical issues, and finances, and more about regrets, fears, and my desire to control.
As I struggle to fall asleep at night, I replay conversations in my mind, wondering how I could have handled them more effectively. In recalling a meeting in which a decision didn’t align with my wishes, I think, “What could I have said to make things go my way?” Or replaying a conversation with my neighbor, I recall how I was upset and raised my voice. And now, even though I’ve apologized, she won’t speak to me. I wonder, “What else can I do?”
I also struggle with “what if” fears that typically involve injury or illness. What if I get hit by a car while riding my bike? What if I’m diagnosed with cancer, have a stroke, or contract an incurable disease? Or worse, what if my husband or one of my children becomes gravely ill or is injured in an accident?
The contents of my Worry Box might look different from my husband’s, but I admit that my box is rarely empty.
Sometimes worrying helps us deal with daily concerns and situations. But if left unchecked, worrying can lead to anxiety—a general feeling of unease, loss of sleep, and other physical symptoms. While these tendencies often come with the responsibilities of adulthood, anxiety also plagues our youth.
Jonathan Haidt calls today’s young adults “The Anxious Generation,” largely because they are striving to live up to the pressures and false images they encounter on social media. Teens and 20-something adults are overly concerned with their appearance, experiences, worldly success, and how they measure up with others.
Add to that the constant barrage of information we receive on the world’s problems—issues such as climate change, threats of war, sudden and extreme changes in governmental policies, or the uncertainty of how artificial intelligence will impact our lives. With so many global issues, it’s no wonder that worry and anxiety are our constant companions.
Whether we’re facing concerns over finances and home maintenance, regrets over past words or actions, fears of the “what-ifs,” pressure from social influences, or dismay over national and global issues, it’s not surprising that many of us have Worry Boxes filled to the brim.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matt 6: 25a, 27.) He continues, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6: 33-34).
If Jesus were preaching to us today, he might also add, “Don’t worry about the rattle in your car, your lack of control, the stain on your new shirt, or the acne on your face.” But where do we draw the line between a healthy concern and a sinful worry? And what are Christians to do about worries that come so naturally to us?
Replacing Our Worries with Peace
The concept of a Worry Box can be comforting. It’s a place to put our worries—to set them aside and maybe even close the lid on them from time to time. But wouldn’t it be better to dump them out, filling our boxes and minds with peace instead? The Bible gives us several alternatives to worry, all of which can be difficult but when practiced, ultimately bring us PEACE.