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”
ENTER TO WIN
Click “Share Your Thoughts” and do just that. Your comment will be your entry into my “Heart-and-Soul Spa” gift-pack GIVEAWAY that includes my A Confident Heart Devotional book, my favorite prayer journal from DaySpring and a $10 Bath & Body Works gift card!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thank you for this devotion! I have been concerned about finances, my husband being out of work, & getting less hours on my job. I really needed this reminder!!!
Those inspirational thoughts are just what I needed. I’m presently going through a tough storm. I needed the reminders of the comfort of the Lord and casting away our burdens.
I used to worry all the time. I leave it to God now. Everything changed for me in September, thats when everything started making sense. I had my meltdown in 2009, lost & left everything. It was a slow process because i didnt allow Him in my life which is a shame, just imagine where i would be…then i remind myself that its His timing not mine. I have bad days still but they are getting fewer & fewer. Praise Him in everything!
This is a wonderful message – and a timely one for me. I sometimes feel so weighed down by problems and worries. This an excellent reminder to give all my cares to Him and then LET GO and TRUST HIM to carry them and to take care of me.
Thank you so much for your ministry – you have blessed me more than words can express!
Thank for this post today! It was exactly what I needed to hear in a stressful time of worrying over health concerns for my children. As I am writing all the things down that I need to remember for them and the doctors I also need to spend time offering this all to the Lord and let him walk beside us through it all.
Thanks again!
I know, like many others, I have a tendency to worry. Big or small issues, it doesn’t matter. I try to go to God about my concerns, but sometimes is takes a while to get the point of letting go of the worry first. Our pastor once said that you can’t hold on to your worries and trust God at the same time. So we have to learn to let them go, it’s just so hard!
Perfect. This is just what I needed today.
So I loved your devotion this morning. In my mind I’m already tired when I think of what I have to do. I work, homeschool and in ministry. Getting me to do more than that overwhelms me and I want to give up and do nothing at all. I know in my heart Jesus is in control but in my mind I feel i can’t get past that. I think to myself the example I am setting for my high school daughter and I don’t like it. I would love to read your book When Concern Consumes Me. Thank you for all you do, in Jesus name.
Much needed words that I needed to hear!! Thank you for the encouraging words!! Praise Jesus for everything He does for us!! In times of stress we forget that God has it all under control. May God keep blessing you Renee in your ministry.
This was such a blessing. I’m still learning to give everything to God and not worry.
Stress in my life right now has me worrying constantly. I’m praying but, I know I need to start Thanking God more. I’ll do my best with these three steps.
Thank you Renee…your words are so timely! Just last night a friend shared some deep struggles and concerns…worrying was the underlining problem. I also need your words for myself! For those times when I come up to the “worry” potholes in my life’s journey, I now have 3 steps that will help me continue running the race!
I needed this today – I worry all the time. I’m trying not to worry so much. It’s a daily undertaking for sure. Thank you for your encouragement on this today! Blessings, Mary Ann
I find myself guilty of this feeling of being overwhelmed frequently, and yet whenever I take the time to quiet myself with prayer, I always feel rested and ready to tackle my responsibilities.
Life goes so much more smoothly when we leave the worrying to God and proceed in peace.
Thank You Renee! this is just what I needed to hear today I have been working on this very hard lately & sometimes after asking God fr help I catch myself still worrying about it then I feel horrible that I have failed him by not trusting him. Just the a few weeks ago I had ask him for help to carry something for me because I could no longer do this by myself yet I continued to worry & then when it all came together I was so excited but at the same time so ashamed of myself for not trusting God to handle this for m like I had ask. I had to go back to him & tell him how sorry I was for not trusting him & for coming through for me even though I had let him down. I feel so horrible when I do this & I need to be reminded that when you place it in his hands you have to trust him with it & wait for the answer a lesson I really need to learn so bad. God is so wonderful & forgiving. I am so blessed that he still took care of me even when I did not have the faith I should have had. How can I remind myself that I have ask him to carry these things for me & let him do that so stop worrying?
I’ve been fighting cancer for 9 yrs. and we’re at the end of our list of things to try medically. So yes, I worry about where so I go from here. I’m sure your book would inspire me. Thanks for the chance at this give away!
The Lord has been reminding me of this very thing this week. He wants me to bring everything to Him, leave it there and praise him for who He is. Thank you for the reminder and the tips!
Weelll, I get so deeply frustrated with myself in worrying and what I label “awfulizing”, that I have force myself to STOP. It seems to be the worst when I’m lying in bed, attempting to sleep. My biggest difficulty is shutting off my mind, so that I can sleep. Ihave prayed about this countless times and you know what? This silly child of our Lord’s takes back her worries, after the Lord takes them away!! UGH!!
Has anyone else experienced this? What has been your solution? Or perhaps, a better question, what did the Lord direct you to do?
I have been trying to do the suggested process in reverse order (thank God, Pray, Stop worrying). Maybe I could switch it up and see how God works through that. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart and powerful faith, Renee.