As a born-again Christian, I sometimes find myself worrying. Despite reading the Bible and believing in God’s promises in my life, a few couples of times when I am in so much despair, worry takes the best of me. However, I have learned to take my thoughts captive and go down on my knees whenever I start feeling worried over things I cannot control. What many are yet to understand is what actually causes us to worry. Does the devil make you worry?
Though the Bible does not straightforwardly note that the devil makes us worry, some verses indicate that the devil influences our thoughts, which may instill fear and worry in us. 1 John 4:18 reminds us that God is love and there is no fear or worry in Him. Therefore, the devil uses these emotions to make us doubt what God says to us and bring us to the point of unbelief. However, if we stand firm in our Faith, we can resist such thoughts (Ephesians 6:16).
I invite you to join me as I discuss intensively about worry and what the devil has to do with it. I will also look at how worry is the devil’s tool and how the devil causes us to worry. Keep reading to learn more.
What Does the Bible Say about Satan Causing Worry?
The Bible indicates that Satan uses worry to lead us into his temptations, and in turn, this draws us away from God. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 1:3 that the devil is out here to corrupt our minds just like he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden. The devil observes our patterns and presents temptations before us that make us worry and doubt the promises God has over our lives, and we, in turn, sin against God.
Therefore, the scripture reminds us in Ephesians 6:16 to take up the shield of Faith to extinguish any flaming darts of the devil. Having Faith in God allows no room for entertaining Satan’s manipulative thoughts, as you know that He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world.
How much influence does the devil have over our thoughts?
The devil has only as much influence over our thoughts as we permit him to have. The Bible notes that only God possesses an omniscient nature, and thus only He can know what we are thinking of. Satan can only offer enticements and temptations to us, and when we fall into those traps, we gain much power over ourselves and our thoughts. However, if we resist him as instructed by the scripture in James 4:7, he will flee from us.
What does it mean that worry is the devil’s tool?
The phrase “worry is the devil’s tool” is used to indicate that dwelling in worry can be destructive and draw us away from our spirituality and Faith. Though this phrase is not in the Bible, it is based on several biblical verses. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear but that of self-control. The devil influences our thoughts by making us worry instead of trusting in God’s promises. This often leads us into sin, which draws us away from our creator.
How can the devil cause you to worry?
The devil can instill worry in us by invoking our actions and thoughts with fear (Hebrews 2:14-15). As mentioned above, the power the devil has over our thoughts is that which we allow him to have. He cannot read our thoughts but can influence them by observing our behavior and patterns. Our patterns create a loophole for Him to influence us negatively and present temptations to us, which then lead us into worrying rather than trusting God’s word over our life.
Therefore, as Christians, we need to be alert and sober-minded, and rooted in God’s word so that we cannot be tempted and sin against God. The devil is prowling around looking for someone to devour, and we should not fall into his traps (1 Peter 5:8).
What does the Bible say about fear?
The scripture talks about two types of fear; the first type is encouraged, while the second is to be overcome. The first type of fear is the fear of the Lord, which means to have reverence for His holy nature and power. The Bible, in the book of Psalm 111:10, notes that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
On the other hand, the second fear limits us from experiencing God’s will in our lives fully, as it is not beneficial to us in any way. The book of 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God did not give us this spirit of fear but a spirit of love, power, and self-control.
Furthermore, God encourages us not to hold space for fear in ourselves, for He is with us. He goes on and says he will uphold and strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10). Therefore, the Bible discourages fear unless it is fearing God. As Christians, we should dwell in God and rely on Him to help us overcome fear.
They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, right? Being raised by Christians significantly impacted my life since I started professing Christ from a young age. My passion for the Christian faith made me pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology. I am a believer and pastor dedicated to spreading the word of God. I have been in the Christian ministry for over a decade and am currently ministering in Life Christian Church. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Please check the About Us Page for more details.
