When life gets overwhelming, do you ever feel like you might suffocate under everything you need to do?
Does worry ever weave it’s way into your heart and consume your thoughts with concern?
If I’m not careful, worry can wear me out and make me want to quit… just about everything!
A few years ago, I took my husband’s advice to write down everything on my plate so I could ask God what needed to be cut back. I listed my commitments and concerns, deadlines and dates on my calendar with every appointment, event, conference call and meeting I could think of for the next six months.
And I prayed: Please God, show me where I need to make changes.
I assumed the Holy Spirit would suggest adjustments in my schedule, but that’s not what happened. God didn’t tell me to make cut backs at work or in ministry. He didn’t show me our family had too many activities. He didn’t challenge me to take a sabbatical, although I was hoping He would.
Jesus showed me it was worry — not my workload — that was making me weary.
You see, without realizing it I was spending as much time thinking and worrying about concerns, commitments, circumstances and deadlines as I did working on them.
It was not only how I spent my time, but how I spent my thoughts that left me depleted.
But it wasn’t until I brought it all to God, and wrote it all out, that I recognized what was happening. I wonder if that’s why Peter tells us: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
The apostle Paul tells us the same thing, and shows us how:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and A him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
But it’s not easy. Honestly, our natural tendency is to take control. And we have an enemy who suggests we do. But we don’t have to listen to the lies. Instead we can listen to God’s promises, and take these 3 steps to get God’s peace:
CLICK HERE to Download “3 Steps to Get God’s Peace”
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Thank you for these words of truth. Worry does deplete us. I’ve heard it said “Turn your worry into wonder…what is God going to do?”
I am always in awe of the gifts God puts in my path. Today it was your post about worry and the reminder to be thankful for all we have been given.
I am coming up to having bloodwork done to monitor things after treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. My worrying began about 2 weeks ago. My mind is swirling with worrying thoughts. I pray. I remember all the twists prior to the final diagnosis, when things looked bleak. I remember that I was able to put it all in God’s hands and I remember the peace I felt. So why is it so hard to get back to that wonderful feeling of peace???
Thank you for offering me the steps to help me get there. Once again, He came through for me and sent you my way!
Absolutely needed this today. I have been struggling with worry and this put me so at peace and helped me to refocus. I am feeling relief already.
It’s these kinds of reminders that make me successful with my relationship with Jesus!
I am so grateful…..thank you!
This resonated deeply with. I experience extreme anxiety and struggle so hard just to lay it at God’s feet. thanks for the great and encouraging post.
You are so right! I need to ‘take it to the Lord’!! Thank you for the wonderful reminder. I printed out 2 of the pdfs and I will be sharing it with my sister. Thank you!!!
Greetings! I really appreciate this devo, especially the phrase “. . . how I spent my thoughts that left me depleted.” I am an over-thinker, and I also magnify things unnecessarily. The three steps you gave will be very good to use. Thank you, and God continue to bless you richly!
Do you know me? It’s as if you do! God had me read this even as I have a lot to do this morning. I went to bed last night with so many concerns and asked God to take them. I must not have let Him because I woke up feeling more weary than when I went to sleep-unless it was that crazy dream I had, chasing a bus…but that’s for another day. Anyway thank you! I really needed this. I have been experiencing extreme personal stress this year-there’s a huge list of what I’m worried about, but really only one answer-give it to God. I do pray to do that every day but I’ve not had much luck in actually lettin it go. God bless you and your devotions. Have a wonderful day!
The devotional for today, coupled with this post has helped me greatly. Recently I have been dealing with something so burdening and heart wrenching that I did not have an option but to turn to Christ. Even in my darkest hours, I find that the anxiety that builds up is mostly from the thoughts popping into my head. Although the situation is quite difficult and sometimes unbearable, it only gets worse when I worry. Bringing all of my concerns to Him like Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to, praying and reading encouraging scripture and posts/devotionals such as this one will bring us to peace that transcends all understanding.
Have a blessed day!
There are times when I feel everything caving in. I feel overwhelmed with insecurities at work, home, and being a single mom. To the point where i just want to quite and never look back. I get caught up in the business of having to make ends meet and making sure my son eats before me. I have more break downs in the last few months thinking when it everything get better. When will I be ok, all i ever do is worry. But reading this devotional this morning before i started my work today made me feel like im not the only one that feel this way. And its a great to know how others get through times likes this.
I started reading my devotional every morning before I started my day. I have always heard that God provided peace for those that “sought” Him, and doing so has brought me a peace in may daily life that is LIFE CHANGING. I never fathomed it could be so easy to let go of daily struggles in our lives if we dedicated our “first fruits” to Christ. I have sure learned that this few minutes each day is providing everlasting and overwhelming peace in my life. God is so Good!
Hi Renee’! Thanks for the reminder. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of listening to Satan’s lies even though I know he is the author of confusion and chaos – the opposite of peace. The Bible is full of good advice for us and our stinking thinking – ‘renew your mind’, ‘take every thought captive’, ‘pray without ceasing’, ‘in everything give thanks’. God loves us so much and He gave us instructions on how to live abundantly on this earth. We just have to seek His peace and know that nothing is too small or insignificant to bring before Him. Thanks for the printable!
I think we forget how awesome and big our God is! We/I tend to put Him in a small box and fail to trust in Him and believe in what He is capable of doing in and thru us. Faith, just to touch His “garment” and I am healed. Wow!
I am so glad I was able to read this particular post today. As I have been dealing with a lot over the last few months and this post put it all into perspective. I will admit I have found it difficult to pray lately because of all of the issues I’m facing plus the thought, which intellectually I know is erroneous, that God is punishing me.
Thank you.
This hit home today. I will download the 3 steps to remind me when I get overwhelmed. I know a lot of my stress comes from my thoughts more than what actually needs to be done.
I find myself overwhelmed a lot lately, and slowly insecurities and doubt have been creeping into my mind. I have been praying for balance, and this is such a great way to do that (you have a wise husband). I know once I see everything I will be able to balance and find my own peace!
Thank you for your devotion today. I am anxious to get your book on confidence. Right now in my life I feel like I need more to make each and every day.
thank you for supporting women who want to walk in faith and and stay connected to God’s word. I don’t really get to stressed out but one thing i find myself thinking about the most is the future of my kids and will they make good choices growing up and into adulthood, i am raising them with no Father in the home or no real male rolemodel and that worries me a lot. I know God will and can make up for that missing earthly father and i want God to show me the way!!!!!!
Your devotion really spoke to me today. Worry is something I struggle with regularly and your words encouraged me to remember Who to turn to. Printing the 3 steps as a daily reminder!
This is exactly what I needed today I I’ve always worried a lot but this season of my life is gonna so make me a bolder stronger person!!!please bible study lady’s be in prayer for me going thru some financial troubles. God bless you all
Thank you, this is definitely what I needed right now. Most of my life has been consumed by fear and worry and I am just so exhausted. I feel like I’ve just been living from one crisis or struggle to the next. Lately, I’ve been so focused on dealing with my children who have been sexually abused. My fears and worries about their phsyical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing has been a heavy burden on me. Lord, please help me trust you completely with my children. May I today finally lay all my fears, worries and burdens at your feet and seek rest from you alone. Amen.