The Anxiety Journal: Helping People Overcome Worry - Priolo, JOFMM Spring 2004

Worry is the acceptable sin. Everybody does it—so how can it
be that bad? Counselees often use terms to describe this problem
that help them feel less culpable—words such as, nervousness, apprehension,
distress, or uneasiness. But God calls it sin. So must you.
But as a biblical counselor you are called to use the Scriptures
not only to convict people of their sin, but also to teach to correct and
to train them in righteousness (cf. 2 Tim 3:16). It is my prayer that this
article will enable you to do all four more effectively with your
worriers.
Let’s begin with teaching and conviction. What should the counselee
know about the sinfulness of worry? Here are a few basics.

Worry is a sin for several reasons.

1. God forbids worry. The Holy Spirit commands us in Philippians
4:6 to “be anxious for nothing.” Jesus said in Matthew
6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

2. Worry shows a lack of faith in God.
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe
how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor
do they spin; yet I say to you that even Solomon in all
his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But
if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive
today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will
He not much more do so for you, O men of little
faith? (Matt. 6:28–30, NASB, emphasis added)...