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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I need to learn how to give God all my concerns and issues. I want to hold on to some of them instead of surrendering all.
Worry is a constant “friend” that I am seriously trying to break up with! I am in the midst of some pretty heavy life situations right now and it is a daily battle to fix my mind on God and not the circumstances in front of me. I am reminding myself to pray and give it up as often as I feel the worry kicking in. Thank you for your timely words and download.
Funny, I just broke down in tears to my husband last night for this very reason. A reminder I really needed. Thank you
Thank you, Renee for this great reminder. I love and cling to all of these verses as I pray over my future grandbaby that may have some developmental issues. Most of the time I am ok but then sometimes my mind goes all crazy and I have to regroup, remember and pray! So thankful for a God who is in control and loves us so much!!
Stress and anxiety seem to invade on a regular schedule. I get caught up in a mind numbing pattern of worry and planning, worry and planning and rushing off to do something, anything to stop some of the worry. BUT
when I stop and pray and give these situations over to God, He gives me peace.
Thanks for the reminder. I needed it yet again. . . .
During this time of my life I’m going through a lot of transitions and life stresses. For example: finishing my college courses, graduation in May, starting my career as a nurse, husband getting a new job, buying a house, moving to a different state in one month, and all the while being pregnant with our first child that is due to be born 2 days before our first anniversary on July 12th! There are a lot of responsibilities that I am required to take care of and they are continuing to increase. I can tell a difference when I depend on God versus when I get overwhelmed thinking about everything. Thank you for this reminder of how to turn the focus back on God and to not spend so much unnecessary time worrying.
Thank you for the reminder to stop and pray! Sometimes I think things are silly to ask the Lord about – needed to read this today 🙂
I have been doing this for the last several weeks when I begin to feel overwhelmed with fear or uncertainty. Thank you for the scripture to go with it. I wrote it down to memorize this week. Thank you for the encouraging words!!!
What a great encouragement you are all….thank you for your help and always Being there to help is walk thru life!!!
I also let worry overwhelm me, then God shows up and it was not that big at all. He is helps me to glide through all the mess when I move into the passenger seat. Thank you sweet Jesus for being in control!!!
Your devotional sounds wonderful!
Thank you for sharing this message today. God is good and I am so
Blessed, giving my worries to him.
Yesterday I was struck by the Stop Worrying brick wall (I tend to be to stubborn to just see it). I found myself in a place where I had to make the decision to stand on God’s promise that He’ll take care of me or completely lose it. I made the decision to stand on God’s promise even though I did not feel it and so many thoughts were going through my head telling me otherwise. I just kept declaring over and over again that my faith and my trust is in God.
Needless to say, He came through with His promise. A very big burden was lifted off my shoulders and all I had to do was get out of His way and trust in Him. Now when I feel like crying it’s tears of joy not of worry.
Dear Renee~ This was beautiful and helped me so much. I love how God speaks to me through your writing. Your words are so refreshing to my soul. Also it helped me have a conversation with the Lord about something I’m currently worried about. And I thanked Him that He is so good at being in control. I’m not. It gives me back pain. I printed two copies, one for me and one for my co-worker who sits by me. Blessings to you and your family.
~Amber
I needed this word today, the last 2 weeks have been a spiritual and emotional roller coaster for me. My mother is recovering from a heart attack and my sister is recovering from pneumonia. But in all this turmoil His word keeps on sustaining me and allows me to minister and witness the goodness that I have, in his joy and peace.
The concern that consumes me most right now is money and being able to pay bills. I have been unemployed for 2 years and going through a lot of change. I know God will come through for me and always has but for some reason I can’t kick the worrying about it!
What a blessing your devotional was for me today! Thank you so much!
Great devotional today! I really needed to hear this as I’m dealing with issues in workplace. Long hours and feeling very overworked. Thank you for all the Psalms 23 devotionals. Very uplifting and inspiring!
I am going to print this and hang it on my mirror. I need constant reminders to stop worrying, start praying, and remember to thank Him. He really is SO good at being God.
What does one do when worry consumes the soul? Every waking moment is a more like a nightmare. Constantly praying and being patient wondering what it is that you did so wrong? Trying to keep a smile and a solid foundation for your children but nothing works. Going and going and going with all your might only to be pushed back further than when you started! The cry of a worn out woman! I’m really trying to learn how to lean on God when so much leans on me…how do I bend but not break! God even though I’m having difficulty praying please hear my cry.