When it comes to worry, studies have shown the following statistics:

*40% never happens.  So, in essence, we are literally wasting our time by worrying.

*30% of what we worry about has already happened. Learn to let go and forgive yourself and others. You cannot change the past – no one can. Accept it for what it is and go on.

*12% are needless worries, such as what someone else thinks about us.

*10% are petty and unimportant such as when we worry about what’s for dinner, worry about being late, or worry about what to wear.

*8% of what we worry about actually happens. Of this percentage…

*4% of our worries that happen are beyond our control. We cannot change the outcome. These worries may include our health, the death of a loved one or an impending natural disaster. Often times the reality of these events are more bearable than the worry.

*4% of what we worry about we have some if not all control over the results. Basically, I think these are the consequences of our actions or inaction on the problems and challenges we face.

While I can’t guarantee these percentages, they do give us an indication that most of the time worrying is not a successful way to deal with the stuff that life throws at us (or that we think life may throw at us).

Picture this.  The sea is pounding against the rocks in huge waves.  The lightning is flashing, the thunder is roaring, and the wind is blowing.  But there, in the crevice of rock, a little bird with its head serenely under its wing, is sound asleep.  That’s real peace–the ability to sleep in the midst of a storm.  Sound familiar?

²⁵Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸ And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:25-34)

So take care of today and let God worry about the part and the future.  The present is a gift that God gives.  Enjoy it and live it to the fullest.