Tag: worry

He Holds Tomorrow

I struggle a lot with anxiety.

Whether it be navigating a social situation, obsessing over something that I haven’t done perfectly, or feeling completely overwhelmed by an upcoming task –  my tendency is to rely on myself instead of looking to God for help.

But I know that this is not the right way to respond to life’s difficulties.

There is a song by Jason Gray called “Sparrows.” I like it because it helps me to put things back into perspective when my world feels like it’s spinning out of control.

Here are some of the lyrics:

You can’t add a single day by worrying
You’ll worry your life away
Oh don’t worry your life away
You can’t change a single thing by freaking out
It’s just gonna close you in
Oh don’t let the trouble win

You may feel alone
But you’re not on your own

If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow

So how would it help me if I truly believed that my God holds tomorrow? If I trusted that He cares for even the sparrows – and that His love for me (and you) is so much greater? I should think that it would have a major, positive impact!

But it’s a little more difficult to flesh this out in daily life.

When you can’t pay your bills…
When a loved one is sick and there is nothing you can do…
When you fear for your safety…
When a relationship is falling apart…

It could be any number of things. But I think the important thing is that we try to bring each worry to God. He is the One who sees us and loves us and desires to take care of us.

So what is it that you’re worrying about? Why not give it over to the Father – situation by situation – and let Him handle today’s worries…along with the worries of tomorrow.

 

Photo by Przemyslaw Reinfus on Unsplash

It’s Cold Inside

It’s been cold inside my heart for the past week or so. I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety, a lot of doubt, a lot of perfectionism…just a discouraging time. On one hand, I know the Truth of what God says, but on the other hand, I’m having a difficult time believing it.

At two points during the past several days, I’ve been so anxious that I’ve had to actually write out a list of all the things I was anxious about, just to get them “out of my head” so I could try to go to sleep. Thankfully, I feel better after doing this – and I always try to end with reminding myself of the positives and the promises of God. Somehow this keeps me going.

For example, one night I wrote out my list of worries, and then asked myself, “Why am I worrying so much about all of this?” I answered myself:

  • I’m not trusting God.
  • I want to be in control.
  • I want things to go perfectly.
  • I don’t want to fail.
  • I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

But then I countered myself with these truths:

  • I put my trust in You, God. I let go!
  • God is in control – not I.
  • There is no perfect on this earth. God knows that I am only human, and He gives me grace.
  • God allows me to fail. I can learn from it.
  • I am not here to please _________, or anyone else. I am here to please God!

A verse that encouraged me at this time was Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) – “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Then another night I was worried about something else, and how things weren’t going as I had hoped. But again, I tried to encourage myself with truths:

  • God led me into this.
  • I prayed about it.
  • I asked for wisdom.
  • God opened doors.
  • Maybe He wants me to grow through this.
  • Maybe He wants me to rely on Him!
  • Faithful is He who called me, who also will do it.
  • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
  • It is God who works in me both to will (to WANT to do) and to do (to accomplish) His good pleasure.
  • God is my Helper, and He will not leave me or forsake me.
  • I AM RIGHT WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE!

The hardest part is that I feel like no one understands. People try, but they just don’t struggle with the same things. Truthfully, however, no one can fully understand someone else. The ONLY Person who can COMPLETELY understand me and each and every person is Jesus Christ.

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” ~ Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

PRAISE GOD that He understands! Sometimes it is just this knowledge that gets me through. ❤

When Fear Surrounds Me

Fear. Anxiety. Worry. They’re not good feelings. I experience them often, and I’m still trying to master practical ways to handle them.

Yesterday I encountered several circumstances that caused me to worry. And I had to deal. Here were a few thoughts that helped me:

  • Nothing can enter my life without it first going through God.
  • My loving Father wants me to trust Him and to let go!
  • I am not in control of the things that happen to me, and I need to stop trying to be.
  • Remember to take deep breaths–physically and spiritually. I need to “breathe in” God’s grace, and “breathe out” His praise (from Your Grace Finds Me, by Matt Redman).
  • “Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, [He’s] never failed and [He] won’t start now” (from Oceans, by United)!

Thank God that we can trust His sovereignty and His good plans for us! When fear surrounds you and me, let’s choose to trust that He is near, and that He won’t fail in keeping His promises. ❤

Image Credit: Unknown