Who was Polly that they should associate her name with such a horrible condition?  She certainly must have been one nervous individual.  I doubt you would have had trouble pointing her out in a crowd.

Are you one of those who worry about everything all the time?  Can you name one miracle that you have brought about by worrying?  Likely not.

More than likely, the only thing your worry has established is some sort of illness; fibromyalgia, ulcers, nerve bumps, hair loss, constant anger, some kind of drug addiction, and the like.

You learned to ride a bicycle; sometime after you had learned to walk, of course.  You learn to read, or you wouldn’t have a clue what I’m saying.  Overtime you built a fair vocabulary.  You learned some social graces (Even if the only place they are acceptable is some sleazy bar.)

If you learned all that, then you can learn to stop worrying.  Especially if you begin to believe the gospel of Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

The gospel is important to everyone, for it is the key to eternal life.  But not just so we can float on a cloud in play a harp.  The gospel is important for the sake of righteous living, in eternity and now.

By the gospel my conscience is clean.  Not that I am without sin.  But his forgiveness is real enough to make a drastic difference in those who believe; they experience a peace they can’t define, they’re not easily rattled by danger, and they usually sleep pretty good.

By the gospel I am taught.  Not only do I learn what God expects, but the Holy Spirit reminds me moment by moment.  By this I have an opportunity to do what is right all day long.

By the gospel I am told that God will take care of me.  So as I find myself able to believe, I find worry and anxiety dissipate rather quickly.  It is impossible for God to lie.  And he sealed his promise with his Son’s Holy Blood.  I’m thinking I’m standing on pretty firm ground when I believe he’ll take care of me.

And most importantly, by the gospel I know I will have confidence before the Holy One when I leave this place.  Now some folks might not put that together.  So for the sake of the few I will explain.

If you wear anxiety like a warm coat in the winter now, what do you think you will do when you stand before his blazing glory without the confidence of faith?   How will you believe your sins are forgiven?  How will you be sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Believe in the gospel and you will find yourself living at peace.  Choose to remain in disbelief, and you choose to live with in the negative consequences of anxiety.  And by that you are threatened to bare those consequences for eternity.

I do hope this has been helpful to at least one if not a few.

P.S.
The word “efficacy” is often used in medicine.  By that word doctors, define the power of a medicine or procedure to do what it’s supposed to do.  I tell you that the efficacy of Christ Jesus and His gospel are perfectly powerful.