Day 4: Sometimes Worry Makes Me Wonder
Taken in part from Chapter 9
© 2011 by Renee Swope with Revell Publishing. All rights reserved.
Food for Thought: She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40 NIV)
When life gets overwhelming, do you ever start to wonder if God notices and cares about everything you have going on—like how hard you’re trying to take care of your family, pay the bills, find time for Bible study, your marriage and the ministry He’s called you to while working two jobs, caring for your aging parents, commuting to work, and carpooling your kids?
Several years ago, I was having a hard time balancing my life, and there were days when I wondered if God noticed and cared about all I was doing. I didn’t understand why He wasn’t taking better care of the details in my days so things would run more smoothly. Sometimes I felt like He might be expecting too much of me.
Looking back now, I can see that I was expecting too much of myself. The truth is, I was doing a lot of good things, but not all of them were God’s things for me during that season of my life. I had ended up in a place where I was serving God more than I was seeking God. Finally, I came to a point where I was exhausted and ready to resign from just about everything.
Eventually I ran out of fuel. I didn’t have enough energy to handle all of my roles, relationships, and responsibilities. I also ran out of faith, which made me start doubting my ability to manage my life, to hear God clearly, and to do all I assumed He wanted me to do.
My life was out of balance and so was my heart. I had taken on too many commitments, and I worried about all of them all of the time. I knew I should trust God more, but I was secretly afraid that if I stopped worrying about everything and everybody He would too. And all that worry started making me weary.
One day, while reading my Bible, I noticed how Martha’s worries were making her weary, and making her wonder if Jesus cared that her sister left her in the kitchen all by herself to do all that work. Listen to how Jesus responded: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41–42 NIV)
How do we choose what is better? How do we find confident peace and assurance that God notices and cares? First Peter 5:7 tells us: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (NLT).
The apostle Paul tells us how: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank 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. (Phil. 4:6–7 NLT)
It sounds so doable, but why is it so hard? I think it’s because Satan whispers the opposite. He says, “Don’t be calm about anything; instead worry about everything. Tell God what He should do. Then take control if He doesn’t listen.”
The enemy wants our concerns to consume us like acid in our hearts, eroding our confidence with worry and doubt! I say it’s time for us to stop listening to him and start listening to and living in God’s promises instead. When our concerns become consuming, let’s commit to:
Stop worrying—Press the pause button on our consuming concerns.
Start praying—Talk to God about all we’re doing and ask Him if there’s anything we need to cut back so we have time to seek Him as much as we serve Him and others.
Keep thanking God—Thank God for what He’s done in the past and will do in the future. This helps us remember how good He is at being God.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. When concerns consume me, remind me that You are with me, holding me by my right hand and guiding me with Your counsel. I want to seek You as much as I serve You and others. Help me balance my life and give my burdens to You, knowing with confidence that You care about me and are good at taking care of me! In Jesus’ name, Amen. (See Psalm 139:23; 73:23–26)
Doubt Diet Tip: Lose the weight of worry by “giving all your worries and cares to the Lord because He cares for you!” Write your concerns on an index card and give them to Jesus. I have a tabletop cross by my bedside where I lay my “concerns card.” Maybe you could get one too. Then, when you start worrying, go back and write your worries on your card, and commit once again to cast your cares upon the Lord. Also, write a promise on a card and carry it with you today. Here’s a link to More Peace-Giving Promises
Let’s Talk: What is one concern you want to lay down at the foot of the Cross today? I’d love for us to pray for each other and bear one another’s burdens.
Please return to my website (if you’re reading this via email), then scroll to the bottom of today’s post and click on “Share Your Thoughts” so you can let us know how to pray for you. If you’re not comfortable sharing details, just say “Pray for me please.”
Laying it down: My biggest concern is my mom. While I was flying home from speaking all weekend in IL, my husband was rushing mom to the hospital. She’s in ICU with large blood clots in both lungs. One is very close to the main artery that leads to her heart. We’re praying and trusting God is not surprised by any of this – although we were. Today’s devotion had already been written – just for me (wink!). And my closing message on Saturday was about Jesus calling us to come to Him – when we’re weary and burdened with worry – so that we can find rest for our souls (Matt 11:38-39), rest in His presence, rest in His plans and rest in His promises. He’s gone ahead of me and left gifts of peace and reminders of His promises along my path. I pray you see His hand in the timing of today’s devotion and His heart for you, too.
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Pray for me please. I am having financial issues and family issues. Thank all of you for sharing. It’s wonderful to see so many of God’s women helping each other with thoughts and prayers. God bless you all.
Please pray I would have the ability to not entertain thoughts that are not from God, that bring fear, and replace those thoughts with God’s word.
Please pray for me.I am currently in school,in a foreign country.It’s very hard for me, as i worry a lot about every single thing in my life,even the smallest details.I try so hard not to and have come to a realization that i cant do it in my own strength,thanks to your devotions.I’m now learning to rely and trust in God for everything.I don’t want to waste time worrying because it really does not change anything,but only drains the energy out of me.
I’m praying for your mother and your family.God bless you.
Thank you for more confirmation that God is with me, the words I hear over and over again are cast your cares on him for he cares for you. I just love hearing that it gives me peace. Please pray for me fiancially I am trying to get back on my feet, and pray for my son who has got him self in trouble and that he will see God’s mercy and justice through all this and he will receive salvation. Thank you
Thanks so much for this community and this word. I dont know where to start. I am clueless at the age of 52. Please pray for me and my family.
I speak healing, health, prosperity, peace, and confidence over all in the matchless name of Jesus.
What a rhema word! I’m trying to balance my life right now. Work, school, family, and ministry…I know my first priority is to seek God and His righteousness. I just need a balance. Please pray for my deliverance from procrastination, in Jesus name. Thank you and be blessed.
Please pray for me that God would give me the direction and instruction I seek. That He would reveal His will for me and my family.
Praying for your mother and family. Please pray for me.
Pray for me please.
I’ve just recently gone through a divorse and live about 7hrs. from my children and grandchild. I live in this city with no family around me. My worries are knowing what to do..Both of my parents have pasted away recently and I find myself not knowing what to do. Home is about 7 hours away where I grew up…I’ve been away 14 years and it sure can be lonely at times,,,please pray for me!
oh, praying that God would bless you you and give you peace from worry! that’s a prayer for myself, too, as my husband struggles with an unidentified stomach complaint he has endured for decades and, at the moment, can’t work. I have faith in God’s goodness – it’s just working out the practical details which isn’t always so easy!
praying for your mom and your family to get through this time. need prayer for my son to come back to the Lord.
Praying for your mom. Please pray for our finances as we talk to a lawyer about bankruptcy due to overwhelming medical bills.
Thank so much for this study. It has come at a time when I feel like I am disconnected from God. My
mom died about 5months ago, two days before my sons wedding. I had to go thru a Wedding that
was out of town and then come back to her funeral. My mom was my best friend and I am having a
hard time with this. I am a writer, and have written a book of inspirations for women that God has
given me over a year ago, Its like now I hear him saying that there is greatness in me..I just need
to walk out in Faith. I believe but that doubt thing keeps speaking in my ear that ..God does not
want you to do this..then I get confused and don’t know what to do. I then go back to being sad
that my mom is not here for me to talk to. This study is opening my eyes and I indeed thank you!
Keep blessing my soul…
Z and Samantha’s posts struck a little chord with me. I gave up a teaching to go into another form of Education, which I believe God opened up to me, but that job came abruptly to an end, I again believe He opened the door for my present job. He has taken me out of my comfort zones and I am doing things I could not have thought possible, I am not unhappy in my job, even though it is only temporary (some may even wonder why I am writing this!?), when I try to share this I can see people thinking ‘she is never happy’ which actually isn’t true. I am very thankful for my job, I have applied for some other jobs and have been interviewed (even being called to the second round for one of them) but I would appreciate prayer for guidance for the right job and that I would have a peace about that. I am not anxious all the time, but I do feel that at times it does take away my peace. My boss is also a particularly difficult individual.I hope this doesn’t sound too dramatic, it isn’t meant to be, I have re-read the post several times.
Thank you for your prayers.
So many of the Prayer requests mirror my own. I also know the difficulty of caring for a parent. I thought I was going to lose my Dad this past March, but he has totally recovered. I know that Prayer had so much to do with his recovery. My church has a wonderful Internet Prayer Chain. In moments over 100 people can be Praying for your request. Renee I will be in Prayer for your mother and your family.
Thanks so much for the encouragement that this Doubt Diet has sent my way.
Karen
Hi Renee! I’m praying for your Mom! Hope she will be well soon!
Please pray for my Mom as well. She has been in & out of the hospital the last few years with
bowel obstructions & finally the drs have decided to do surgery next month. It will be a risky surgery
but if they don’t do anything they say she will eventually die from an obstruction.
She is 73 & has quite a few health issues so please lift her up in your prayers.
I’m also praying for the other requests that have been mentioned here.
Blessings,
Janet W.
I have had to file for Social Security Disability due to my declining joint health. While waiting for the decision I am facing the most difficult time financially. My 84 year old Dad is helping with the basic bills, but the creditor are having to wait. I pray for a quick decision and payment of benefits so that I will not have to file bankruptcy. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Karen
I am asking for prayer for myself and my 15 yr old daughter. I love my children deeply! 3 yrs ago their father and I divorced. During that time I was unemployed like many. After our house sold through a short sale, I literally became homeless. I asked their father to take them in on a Constance basis until I got better on my feet. As with many people the economy and lack of jobs made that very difficult. Finally I have a home in a different state, but am working and doing good again with my new husband. Now my daughter over the last 3 yrs has been feed A LOT of lies and has been hurt a great deal. She has decided she wants nothing to do with me and has even stated, ‘you’re dead to me, I have no mother!’. My heart is broken!!! I can handle them living with their father (he’s not a terrible dad), but it hurts so bad that she feels and treats me this way. My deepest hearts desire is to have a ‘good’ relationship with my children. Please pray for God’s favor.
Pray for me