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!
ENTER TO WIN: A Confident Heart Devotional GIVEAWAY
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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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As I navigate through some difficult times fear and worry have been there. But, I have made a point to address these when they creep up and pray for strength. I do the same with my 12 year old son. I hope to teach him to rely on God and Jesus, because they are always present.
I struggle SO much with worrying! Every day is a constant battle for me. But I realize a lot of the things I get anxious about tend to never happen (since I imagine worse case scenarios) or they are things that I don’t have control over anyways. So I am learning to take every thought captive and to trust God…some days that’s easier said than done, but I’m a worrier-work-in-progress. 🙂 Thank you for your encouraging words in your devotional. I’m a visual person, so the baseball illustration is helpful for me too! 🙂 God bless you and your ministry!
I think this book would help me deal with life’s daily stuff. I was abused as a child and do not approach things with a confident heart. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Fear and worry seem to dominate my thoughts. I am so thankful that I can gave an open and honest dialogue with God about how I am feeling. I can also.trust that He will take care of my fears.
I am a worry wart! I have struggled to not let worry consume me, until I learned to let God have control, does that mean I never worry no, but it does not consume me! Thank you for this reminder.
Thanks for the encouraging scripture verses! Needed so much these days. I like how you used the baseball description for your son. I have two little boys and so I hope to be able to use this idea as they get older.
Oh….worry. I used to worry about every little thing. In my life, my husbands life, my parents lives, my siblings, my friends, my co-workers, etc, etc, etc. You get the picture. I was good at it too! 😉 But it really started to wear me down and I was blue all the time because…guess what? I couldn’t fix any of those things. Nope, nary a one. I then looked up and said, “Ok, God, I guess you want these?” I let HIM take my worries and everyone elses stuff and do what HE does best…take care of us. WOW, what a difference. I felt lighter and happy and could enjoy MY day and do the things that needed to get done. Now I actually have people say to me that it never seems like I worry!!!! HAHA. I still have moments for sure, but I know what to do and WHO will show me how to take care of things. <3
Worry and fear effect my joy way more than I care to even admit. While it has gotten better, I still have a long way to go.
Fear and worry have had a huge impact in my life ever since I can remember. It was learned behavior from our mother. Bless her heart, we lived with an alcoholic father. We never knew what mood he would be coming home in. We were all fearful that if he came home drunk no telling what was going to happen.
Even though I have been a Christian for many years I still struggle with it. I have to bind it the name of Jesus. Nothing is too small for him. I praise God that we have him to turn to and the promise of eternal life.
I thank you for encouraging us and keeping us learning the truth that builds that faith .
God bless,
SZ
Thanks for these words today – helping me remember to stand on God’s truth & competence as God in the mist of circumstances that “scream” otherwise.
“How much does fear or worry impact your daily decisions and joy?” – When I’m in my comfort zone, I feel peaceful, yet throughout my life the Lord continues to take me out of my comfort zone, which causes me so much fear. I have struggled with panic attacks because of it (on and off), shortness of breath, back pain, and more. As a child, I often dreaded the classroom at school for fear of being called on. When I got called on my face would turn red, my voice was all shaky, I would sweat. My stress of my parents divorce was hard on my health, I had to go to the nurses office a lot from symptoms of extreme anxiety~ dizzy, vision caving in, breathing into a paper bag because of hyperventilating. I got through school and college somehow even though I was a nervous wreck often, and even skipped a day when I had to give a speech with a group. As an adult one of my biggest fears was my wedding day, because people would be looking at me. God did a miracle though. Even though I had a panic attack at both my bridal showers, there were so many friends praying for me (people who knew my severe struggle with anxiety), and on my wedding day I had peace. I’m so thankful for memories of how God has come through. Once again the Lord is taking me to a place where my fear of people looking at me (that I’ve had since I was little) is bombarding my mind. Yet I believe the Lord wants to REALLY heal me of this. Even more than I know. I’ve been having shortness of breath in the last month or two (thinking about God’s plans for my future) and God is comforting me through it. I really need to learn to replace these dreadful thoughts with good thoughts. His plans for me are so good, but because of my fear (lies), it’s so scary for me.
Thanks for your free downloads and ministry! You’re a blessing. I recently bought “A Confident Heart”. 🙂
Right now I am focusing on telling God that I trust him, even through the unknown. I am trying to release things to him every day. One of these “worries” is my 10-year old son who tried to kill himself recently. We are on a journey with him to get into his world and see what is bothering him and why. Another “worry” is the fact that I have to quit my full-time job to student teach in August and I still do not have another job to take its place. This is definitely a journey for us in our family and we are working on remembering Christ’s truths to us and place our lives in His hands on a daily basis. It’s a process, but I am confident that Christ is going to lead us through.
Your devotions have made such a difference in my walk with The Lord. As I walked through breast cancer I grew angry at God for letting this happen to me. But now as I walk in faith, why not me?
“Truth #3: God doesn’t just tell us not to worry or fear, He tells us what to do when we do.”
How I thank Him for His mercy and grace! So- He knows that worry and fear cling to this flesh BUT- He has provided the way to have victory and Joy in the midst of it!
Reminds me of 1 Corinthians 10:13 -” No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. ”
Yay God!
Fear and worry had a huge impact on my marriage. Sometimes it still does. But I have to ask myself would this thought or feeling come from God. And my son also has fears any 4 year old would have but I’m going to start telling him to ask himself the same question. Because every good thing is from God so we don’t need to worry or be afraid of anything. 🙂
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! Along the ups and downs of life I need to focus on HIs Word and give him any worries. It isn’t always easy or my first inclination, but He is waiting for me to trust in Him with everything, ALL THE TIME.
Fear and worry have dominated my life since I was a young girl. I so long to be free of these things hindering my walk with Jesus. Daily I cast my cares on Him but I’m not good at leaving them there.
I am a mother of twin 7year old boys and a 4year old girl. I am married to a wonderful man who is a youth pastor. So along with my own three children, we minister to 40-50 teenagers every week. I try to always be refilling myself so that I can pour out effectively! I would love to have a copy of your book to do just that. I receive the proverbs 31 devotions sent through my email and they are treasured. Thank you for your ministry and willingness to be poured out for the Lord! Blessings!
This is encouragement I needed to hear when my daughter was young but I am hearing it in God’s time not mine, so it is not too late. Thank you for reminding me to lean on His strength!
This article is so timely as I tend to worry about my life and the way I use my time. When I am worried or fearful, I will ask the Lord to take that worry and throw it away…just like the imaginary ball you illustrated with your son. I also know that after casting this worry or fear away, I need to pray and ask the Lord for peace in all my situations and rest in His love and grace.