Welcome Encouragement for Today friends! I am so glad you are here! In my devotion today I shared one of the many ways I have learned to process my worries and fear, and how God used my own struggles to help my son overcome his.
And I also wanted to share a printable to download and keep for those days when you and your loved ones feel afraid.
CLICK HERE to download my “Fear Not For I am With You” FREE printable.
These verses have been woven into countless conversations I’ve had with Jesus about my fears and worries, and my kids’ too. I love these scriptures because the first one includes God’s words speaking to me, and the second one is phrased as my declaration and prayer back to Him.
There is nothing more powerful than our hearts hearing our lips proclaim our trust in God’s truth. Again and again.
I pray this printable is a blessing today as you let it lead your anxious thoughts to Jesus!! Hold those worries in your hands and ask: Is this what Jesus would say to me?
If fear is saying something to your heart that Jesus would not say to you – then the answer is NO! And YOU GET TO DECDE that it doesn’t get to stay! I’m praying for each of you who stop by today!
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Enter to win my A Confident Heart Devotional book and my favorite prayer journal from DaySpring. Perfect for summer and life on the go – my Confident Heart Devotional book is filled with powerful stories, practical life-lessons and biblical insights to help you and your loved ones overcome fear and worry through the power of God’s truth each day!
How much does fear or worry impact your daily decisions and joy (or your child’s)? Click “Share Your Thoughts” below and do just that. Your comment will be your entry to win!
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I struggle with fear and anxiety everyday. But I know God is more than capable to transform those fears into faith. But it takes work on my part to take each thought and do like you said, ask myself, is this something that Jesus would say? When it’s not, throw it away and keep doing that until I allow Jesus to truly have control over me. This book sounds great.
I’m worried about being separated from someone I love. I’m afraid of the future. I worry a lot. I wonder what I’m worth. What should I do with my life? Can I really make a difference in the world? Sometimes I feel alone in the world. It seems everybody’s against me. I can’t do anything right. I’m afraid of what could happen. The possibility of death frightens me. I need to make a decision, what steps should I take?
These fears and worries, this way of thinking daily…
→Pain of regret. When fears and worries come I stop and begin running the opposite direction. Eventually, I gave up and life at that time seemed pointless. My thoughts grew more and more negative and soon the words I say and the things I did became more selfish. I didn’t have a sense of direction and I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. Fell into depression and three times I’ve attempted suicide.
Praise God and God Bless SOLI DEO GLORIA SWEET SWEET SWEET HONEY TO THE SOUL IT TRULY IS AMEN
→I now understand that I was never alone because the Lord our God is Faithful and True. All that I went through was exactly what I needed to break me down humbled before God. Once I made the decision to intentionally live for the Glory of God and in everything to please him who enlisted me and the rest is history.
“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:5-9
For as long as I can remember, I have always fought anxiety . . . in the most horrible times of my life I have always felt peace, though. Looking back I know He never leaves us. BUT I still struggle almost daily. Time to conquer this! 🙂
I am such a worrier. I am trying to overcome this. Your devotion comes at the perfect time. Thank you so much.
When my children worry about a decision they need to make in regards to which direction/choice they should make, my husband and I also say, “You cannot lose what you do not have” so after praying about it, make a choice and go for it! God will direct our paths when we are abiding in Him!
Although I am still a work in progress, fear still grabs ahold of me so easily. I fear the judgement or criticism of others because I fear letting them down. “Am I screwing up my kids? Does my husband still love me? How are we going to pay for the van that broke down? I’m not doing this motherhood thing right! Why can’t I find friends that stick by the way I stick by them?” I’m learning what my strengths are and how best to do the things I should and shouldn’t, but saying “No” has always been difficult. Fear likes to hit me most when I am trying to concentrate or sleep. It causes me to second guess everything I did – good and bad. Sometimes my fears are because I won’t let go of past hurts or disappointments in myself. Giving it to God is what I work on. Sometimes it’s easy and I can trust that God is in control and others I must ask for God’s help with every breath. God has a good plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11), God won’t abandon me (Philippians 1:6), God’s been with me since the beginning and won’t leave now (Psalm 139), and God loves me no matter what (1 John 3:1). These are the truths I hide in my heart so I can make it day to day. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are days I don’t want to get out of bed, but I know that God will be with me and help me through the difficult times. God’s brought me this far, He won’t leave me now.
Fear is controlling me to the point I became unable to function at work and am on long term disability insurance for anxiety and depression – I don’t want to end up on government disability but am overwhelmed with anxiety!
How much does fear or worry impact your daily decisions and joy (or your child’s)?
Every day. My fear of failure paralyzes me to the point that I become inactive. I don’t want to share this with my boys.
Fear controls so much of my life. I’m always worried about what others think.
I suffered from panic disorder/depression/phobia for more than 15 years. The lord healed me completely one day at a prayer meeting.
I am a worrier but have always been able to manage it and like your said I never thought that maybe this would be passed on to my kids. My oldest daughter who is almost 6 has begun to be afraid and anxious about certain things that make no sense. She is scared to watch a DVD or go to a movie because “something may happen” at the end, although when you ask her what she can’t explain. She is scared to be left in the car when it is running. She is scared to be in the tub when the drain is pulled but is also scared to be in the shower if you cover the drain. She cannot be in either without a parent standing directly next to her. This is among other thongs. I hope this is just a phase, bUT I am also scared that it will just get worse instead and she will end up being scared of everything and afraid to leave the house.
I have a few days a week where I have fear and I just rebuke it in Jesus name! I have learned through your ministry that using God’s word against the enemy is the most powerful tool we have to defeat our fears!
The last five years we have dug ourselves out of $50,000 of credit card debt on one salary. Praise God! I was called by God to stay at home with my children. I knew this calling at the age of ten years old. I got into the trap of wanting what I want and right now due to things in past that spilled over into our marriage. But God convicted me and I spoke to my husband about it and now we are living on a cash basis. But during those years it seems every major appliciance has broke or quit and a major health problem arose. But God supplied every last penny to pay for two new ac units in the house, refrigerator, pump float and new alarm box, car tires, car repairs(expensive), used washing machine(nicer than the 5 year old one), dishwasher, emergency surgery on our dog, another colonoscopy within months of each other. I have realized you cannot rely on money but on God alone. He will be their with you if you put your trust in him. Still not quite debt free but almost there. I am also an HSP(highly Sensitive Person) which causes anxiety issues bc I haven’t learned to balance things well as of yet. But with God all things are possible. This article brought tears to my eyes. I am working on automatic negative thoughts now. Pray for me to continue reaching for God in my time of need instead of material possessions.
Thank you for sharing how to capture worries. I’ve heard to take thoughts captive but never what to do with them afterword.
Thank you for this devotional. It is such a blessing to me.
Thank you for this devotional. It is such a blessing to me. I will be using it with my children.
I feel alone and afraid at times my husband passed away and he always took care of everything so I worry am I doing the right thing. I pray for wisdom and understanding from God to guide me on this journey.
“Gnawin’ on a worry bone…” My friend’s description always makes me smile! I am guilty & I battle it day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment; I give it to god & then before I know it I’ve snatched it back! Thanks for your sweet voice of encouragement in my day!
When the gap widens between paychecks and bills. The ends just don’t meet.
I worry far more often than I care to admit and my first instinct isn’t always to let go and give it to Jesus. I love the feeling when I finally do let go and I want my heart to be more confident. I will use your “What would Jesus say to me?” Thanks for the devotional!
My husband says I worry about things that don’t matter. He is probably right. I try not to worry but it is hard. I really loved the idea of taken each worry and deciding what would Jesus say about this and visualizing getting rid of it. Thank you.