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 was reminded by today’s post….I can trust God for any problem that will come my way. I am a missionary with SIM in Guinea . I was not allowed to return due to Ebola. Since Sept 2014 I have been living in the unknown. Just today my plans completely changed and I was finding myself starting to go down the path of doubt and fear. The post got printed and will be posted where I can see it daily. Thank you for your ministry.
Greetings Renee,
Oh boy, can I relate!
As a wife, mom, ordained minister, juggling church ministries and work sometimes I’m not sure if I’m coming or going!
Most days life in my home is lived on fast forward, and as a result I find myself in pickle…up the creek without a paddle!
It’s all about the Word of God, balance, reflection, and TIME, TIME, TIME! Good use of TIME!
It’s all about God’s TIMING!
About letting it go…and letting GOD!
I do realize that I cannot do it all myself. I realize that I need God and His wisdom, and His love, and especially His Word!
Thank you for the reminder that Yes,I have to STOP worrying, and yes I have to START praying {when worry creeps up on me}, and YES I have to KEEP thanking God!
Blessings!
Thanks for this great reminder. WOnderful giveaway, too.
I have not considered that it was the worry the was causeing me to feel depleted, I thought it was just the number of things on the calendar. Thanks for a new insight.
I’m a HUGE worrier…..mind games consistently wake me up around 2:30am and I can’t turn them off. Definitely needed the reminder to THANK GOD for all that He has done in the past and will do in the future. His timing is always perfect. He is in control.
I always come away from reading you devotions inspired to be a better person, wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc. Thanks for sharing you beautiful gift of writing for God’s glory!
Such truth in this share! Thank you Renee! I read your book about 3 years ago and it really aided in developing my confidence in Christ. Which from that exudes in my every day confidence around others. You show where to look in the Bible for Christs unending love and mercy for each one of us. And that through Christ, we have everything!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. This has touched me more than you could possibly know. I have been feeling so overwhelmed and like I just want to run away. When I read this, I realized that it is not all the activities, dates, deadlines, etc. that are overwhelming me. Just like you, I worry about EVERYTHING! I try not to, but I can’t help it. That is what keeps me up at night…thinking about everything that needs to be done and worrying if I will accomplish it. And when I forget something…such as missing the deadline to sign my daughter up for camp, I feel horrible. Thankfully, God is always there and makes a way…I was able to still sign my daughter up for camp. That is the reminder that I don’t need to worry because God is ALWAYS there. Thank you so much!! <3
So needed those three steps to get God’s Peace. My mind is in a whirlpool and I’m forever beating up myself about sometime. I study the word but I still feel like I’m failing God and my self. Right now I feel like I’m at the end of my rope.
Thanks Renee, I am going to do the same thing as your husband asked you to do. It never dawned on me, but I think I may be suffering from the same condition of exhaustion and overwhelmed by worry. I loved your Confident heart book and the OBS, I would love to get the devotional. Have a blessed day.
Thank you so much for this wonderful reminder not to worry. It brought to my attention that I have put too much time and energy into worrying when I should be wondering what amazing thing He is going to do next. Glory to Him!
In our heart, we know that God is able to do anything, solve any problem, work good out of our bad situations. We know that God knows everything that is going to happen to us, He never leaves us to handle these problems on our own…we know that and yet we worry or we think that we know how the problems should be resolved…so how does our head believe our heart? I am so thankful for His promise of perfect peace, ours for the asking, any time, any where. He is faithful!
Thank you so much for reminding me that sometimes I just have to slow down and remember to pray. Worry can consume us if we don’t remember to lean on God and thank him for everything he does for us daily.
What a timely post. I’m so encouraged reading God’s word and his love for us. Sometimes we forget just how much he loves us. There was a time when there was great distance between me and God, so I am so thankful and grateful for prayers and his ultimate peace. Your printable is such a wonderful reminder. Thank you. God does hear our prayers and will grant you peace that only HE can provide. I’m proof of that. Thank you again Renee for such a wonderful read this morning.
Blessings,
Cindy
This was a great Word! This is so applicable to so many women (and men) and I can’t wait to share it 🙂 Thank You for encouraging us all with your wisdom and insight!
Dear Renee,
thank you for encouraging us to take it to God. I guess practice makes it perfect, so I shall stay applying and learning to surrender to God my worries not only first but permanently. I think this is my main problem- I surrender for His solutions, but then after a while I take them back thinking I can do it on my own, and so I go- back and forth….
Thank you for this!! I am a working mom of 2 girls with a husband that has a not so convenient working schedule so there is a lot of time I feel overwhelmed and doing it all by myself. I do try to give all my worries to God, but sometimes reacting takes over before I can truly think through the process of what I should do in a stressful situation.
Lynn
I love these 3 steps and am printing them off to re-read often. It is very hard to “let go and let God”.
I have always been a worrier. I was always thinking of two or three things that could happen in very situation. No choice was simple. I included God in my concerns, but didn’t really listen that he would help if I believed he would. Then, one day I went to the doctor and found out my blood pressure was 175/90! When asked if I was having some situational stress, I said, “maybe”. Who was I kidding? I was stressed everyday over some little something. That was a real wakeup call for me. Now I am intentional about praying for God’s help with worry and decision making. I want Him to be in control, not me. Thank you, Renee, for that confirmation. I do need constant reminding that God will do the work he promises. I only need to thank and ask. Peace is already washing over me.
I am learning when I stop worrying and give it to God everything falls into place. It is hard to do but I try everyday. Thank you for all you do to keep everyone encouraged.