A sweet little somebody crawled in bed with me the past two nights. She’s been coughing and running a fever. Seems like someone gets better and another one gets sick or injured. If I’m not careful, worry will weazle it’s way into my mind and I’ll start worry about what might go wrong next.
What if Aster gets pneumonia, like Josh did? What if she can’t go to preschool tomorrow and I can’t get those devotions edited for work? What if Andrew’s collar bone doesn’t start healing?
I’m sure you have a lot of what ifs of your own. I wish we could sit in a coffee shop and talk about and pray about things that are weighing you down or worries that are making you weary.
I’d tell you about the year I let my problems pile up and how all that pressure almost took me down. We could laugh about how I accidentally took my dogs medicine.
There are lessons I learned that I want to tell you about because they changed me – and rearranged me.
I learned how to process my worries with Jesus in a way I never had before. The load didn’t get smaller (hardly ever does) but the same but the weight got lighter because I learned how to let God carry it for me.
Since we can’t meet in a coffee shop, I want to share some things in a short video message I filmed weeks ago. I’ve been saving to share with you this week. In it, I’ll share three steps you can take to help you stop your concerns from consuming you and a powerful “visual” you can use to remind you to cast your cares upon the Lord. {Just click the arrow below to watch it.}
Message Notes: You can download this video’s “Message Notes” in a notes in a PDFor in a in a Word doc here. I encourage you to watch it once and just let God speak to your heart. Then if you want to, watch it again and follow along with the message notes which include parts of the message, verses and blanks to fill in. 
***
Lord, help us turn our burdens over to You, and
{rest in knowing} You will take care of us. Psalm 55:22, GW
***
Let’s Connect: I’d love to hear your thoughts and one thing you want to apply after hearing today’s video message.
Also, if you’re in my online study please share some of your answers to the questions from the end of Chapter 9. Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. 🙂 Let’s turn our burdens over to God and carry them to Him for one another, too, by praying for the person who leaves a comment before ours.
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I am currently going through Hep C treatment, and into my 4th week of 12. I was blessed with a new job Some days the worry has cracked my amour, and with the help of this bible study pulling me closer to him and soaking in his design for my life, its making progress out of my wreckage. This is my last semester of college, I also have two amazing boys still home and under my wing! I cried out “What if I can not do this anymore” Timed perfectly now God uses this opportunity to give me time and with the constant prayer, sharing my heart with my study partner has allowed me to slow down and really FEEL the Love of God for me! I have to be slowed down, and the longer follow Jesus and his words…the more vivid his strength becomes reflected in the cracks of my life.
Thank You
In Christ Love
Janine
This week, like all weeks, the Lord has spoken to me. I have been challenged by the story of Mary and Martha. I too, like Renee and many other women, have the personality of Martha, where I am very task oriented. I can picture myself being just as guilty as Martha buzzing around the kitchen serving and worrying about making everything perfect for my guest, Jesus, instead of just sitting at His precious feet listening and spending time with Him. This week, I tried to put into practice the pause on worrying and praying instead of worrying about my concerns and thanking him. And WOW, it sure did make a difference. The peace the Lord promises when we cast all our cares on him is so real and so rewarding. The joy I felt the day I gave all my worries to the Lord was the best day this week because His peace was so real in my life and His joy resonated in my heart. I’m a nurse and I worked the day I tried to consciously put into practice what I had learned this week and gave all my worries to him and I believe my patient’s saw that difference in me, because even when it got stressful, I took it step by step through prayer and my joy had to have been contagious. 🙂 (no pun intended..lol) So the result for letting our BIG God have our fears and worry is peace and joy…and who doesn’t want that? “With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6b-7
Thanks for sharing your story Christy!
As I said earlier in the week, this chapter really spoke to me. Here are my answers to some of the questions at the end of this chapter:
2. Concerns do consume me. I have had to take sick days from work due to panic attacks and simple exhaustion, and I plan way too much. I have recently come to admit that I take on far too many tasks. The idea of “serving instead of seeking” resonates deeply with me.
3. I do catch myself wondering if he notices. I am still not sure as to what He is calling me to do, so guilt and doubt are constant companions. If I had to be honest, I feel that everything I did from 16-30 was not what He wanted. Of course He knew I would, but it wasn’t His plan for me.
4. If He wanted to sit and talk with me, I would of course make time; however, my mind would be drifting to what else needs to be done. I have a proactive personality, and as such, always need to be doing something and I feel deep guilt when I am not.
I have had some things to happen to me, one after another for three years, I take care of my mom, and her business, I see about sisters that are in another other states, I go with my brother to counseling, addiction, I spent one year with my younger sister injury from blunt head truma hospital, My daughter going thur depression, my husband beening depress as well, we going to court once a month since 2009, and going into son’s case hes no longer with us on earth. I have had a difficult six years and I was the glue for my whole family, and my family as well. Well two weeks ago I just couldn’t handle any more I sat and cried and stay in my room for a week, doctor giving me speeches about health issures, mom call about her insurance problems, one sister needs to move back to Illinois, from winconsin, another relationship issures, and I Just had a melt down. I prayed, and prayed,and still felt that God wasn’t listening to me. I felt no one was listening or cared about what i was going thru my Job listen and take care of every else. You the strong one they would say, Dad trusted you to be here for us. that was the last straw i just can’t take any moe of it and told God, I can not do this any more. Being a Warror for so many years I felt like I let God down, and every one that depended on me to stand in the Gap for them.I am still trying to pray,but I just can’t seem to like before. Renee your video help me this evening a lot I taken on two much worry myself God didn’t give that to me, I assume it on my own. I know that I can let go of some of these things that has weight me down all these years. And get the Joy of the Lord back into my life. Bless for the video. God bless you. vc.
Victoria, I just want you to know that I just prayed for you. You are a strong woman, and the Lord will lift you up in the palm of His hands and give you the strength to get through each day. He loves you so much, my sister.
#4 Yes I would have been able to walk away fromchores. I am doing that right now. Beside I don’t much like cleaning anymore–no one in my family seems to appriciate what I do—-so if Jesus came it would give me a great reason to walk away.
I would have to ask Jesus what my many worries are, because I don’t feel that I am a worrier. He would say, but you are my child……you worry about:
the future; finances; your marriage; your teen daughter; and at times seeing
Elizabeth again.
I would say, you are correct I do worry about those things. Can you help me not to.
Jesus would say, yes I can, but first you need to put your trust in Me and surrender all things to my power and love.
I would say, okay I will try
Jesus would say, ok my beloved one.
#6 Psalm 25:4-5 this is even a new one for me
Psalm 91:1-2 this is an old one I have kept in mind
Psalm 138:7-8 these are also new to me and I like them muchly
Thank you for the new passages Renee you are awesome
I love your idea about writing down our worries on a concern card and giving them to Jesus!! This morning I was concern about something at work and I was MEMORIZING THE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK SO I ASKED GOD TO BE A SHEILD AGAINST THOSE THOUGHTS AND LET ME REST IN HIS ARMS.
It really helped me make it through the rest of the day!!
This chapter is full of so many powerful truths I want to remember ~ choosing God things instead of good things, bossing my heart around instead of others when I’m stressed and worried, asking God about his thoughts and HIS heart concerning my situation and LISTENING for HIS answers. The study questions at the end of each chapter are really helping me to apply the truths I’m learning within the chapters.
thank you for these words, sometimes we don’t even realize tht we re worrying,and it comes out in other forms, anger, depression, stress overload and exhaustion. I am doing another little study as well and th words today were from Nahum 1:3″ the way of the Lord is in the whirlwind and the storm” we need to seek Him during these times for His strength, guidande and wisdom He will keep us strong if we put or sin aside and ask Him to reveal His will for us. May God bless all women in this study and keep us hungry for Him.
Hey ladies,
I am looking for a download from last week that was a quiz about How Can God Use Me? Does anybody know where I can find that so I can print it out?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Laura, here is a link to that post:http://reneeswope.com/2012/03/how-can-god-use-me/
and here is a link to a spiritual gifts quiz that might be what you were looking for:
http://reneeswope.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Spiritual-Gifts-Test.pdf
Renee,
You really do read all of the comments…thank you sooo much!!!
I am glad that you are doing this study; I really need this now.
Laura
Somehow I missed the spiritual gifts quiz, this may help me. Thanks Renee for posting it again, and thanks to Laura for asking about it!!
Blessings,
Hi Renee
this Chapter is speaking Volumes to me. On Sunday one our church Pastors spoke to me about not worrying and your message here just sealed that word. i am one person who would find it hard to trust God completely, somehow i would try to help him in solving my problems. this has led me to a place where i constantly worry about everything, not pray, have pity parties and be so mad at God for “abandoning me”. as we are going through this book, i am being pruned by God, the things that have been hindering my spiritual growth are being pruned. i am learning to STOP WORRYING, START PRAYING and Keep thanking God for everything.
thanking you so much Renne for such a wonderful platform.
Hugs and kisses…
Sithembile
Hi Renee
Shared your prayer with some friends. Your prayers are amazing , how you take the word & pray it through. I’m learning how to do that. What you are doing is amazing.
Rene, Iwant to give u the biggest hug ever and tell u thank u sister for your
Obidient heart. I wwach the video and it was the lord speaking to me threw u
I felt like giving up this week sick tire dealing with house of twelve yet felt
Alone stranded worrying about abcdfg and with out reliazing pushing the lord
Aways asking him why can I feel? Felt forsken? Then the prayer I just read
Wao” music to my spirit, look at our God ¡ our savior being with us just like he
Was with the women when he walk this earth¡ am choke up we are strong
In him heal and restored. “Thank you ” Abba our precious lord and thank u
Rene for letting the lord turn, Our messes into he’s messaged like sam¡ to
To all of my sister in the study love u be bless we are not alone
He is with us¡
I’m not quite to Chapter nine yet, but this last prayer really helped me tonight. I have been having a very difficult time forgiving my ex-boyfriend. He just recently proposed to his girlfriend and we’ve only been apart for six months. It hurts knowing that he led me on for a year and a half, claiming that we were going to get married, only to throw me away after he moved back home for someone who has more money, and who is a doctor to boot. He had always told me that it takes at least a year to get to know someone, but apparently that went out the window the minute he met Chelsey. I am left feeling worthless, alone and angry. I don’t know how to forgive him. I don’t know how to be able to trust men anymore. This prayer that Renee left tonight helped, especially the part about the Lord holding my hand while I know that Victor is holding Chelsey’s hand and is registering for gifts and planning a wedding. Will I ever have that? Will I ever have the Lord holding on to one hand while my other hand is being held by a man who truly loves me?
Hi Pamela,
I can relate to all of what you wrote as a similar thing happened to me. Within weeks of getting ‘dumped’, my ex was with another girl and then was engaged within 6 months. It is terribly painful, so I sympathise with you. Three years on…im still single and it hurts…especially not knowing if this is for life. All I can say is that its a moment by moment decision to let go of that worry and hand it over to God….and its something that you will have to do repeatedly. Its not easy. But God does want what is best for us and despite the heartache and gut wrenching emotions that I know you feel, just TRUST that he does have everything under control and lean into him like you never have before. God will come through for the both of us, in his time. 🙂
WOW! Ask anyone in my family and they will tell you that I am the worrier. I have been my whole life.
I found Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own’ as a little girl. I have recited it many times during my lifetime. I truly do not want to worry. I truly want to give my worries to God.
I like the idea of writing my worries on a note card and giving them to Jesus.
Thank you for sharing.
“Acid in your heart” I have to remember that one. It sticks in a funny way to help me remember satan is acid. I am about 1/2 done with Chapter 9. I wrote in my journal that I have always thought God can handle my “worries” if I just let go of them. But then I find that to be the problem, I can’t let go therefore that is why God isn’t handling it. So it’s my fault. I find I’m blaming myself for a lot of things in my life. I pray that I continue to grow and find ways to let go as I continue to read through your book.
Please also pray for my church. We lost an Awana leader Wednesday night in a car accident. She was on her way bringing her daughter to Cubbies and was killed after hitting a school bus. Praising God that her little girl is okay with only a broken arm. Her family is strong in the Lord, but it is still hard.
I think thanking God and praising him is a real key. It’s important to speak truth out so it can manifest in our lives – that is called FAITH! Just today we had a big set back financially. Chapter 9 is for such a time as this!
Saying a prayer for you today Lori Boruff.
Thank you so much for the video! What is so encouraging is that I am not walking this “hard” time alone!
I am not in Chapter 9 yet(almost)but I look forward to reading it! And thanks for the e-mail “prayer” you sent tonight! What a blessing!
This Chapter spoke loads to me. I have had a revelation about myself that I guess I have been denying or not wanting to accept it. I have been living in fear for so long. Fear of not being like, fear of what other people think of me, fear of me not being good enough. This fear led me to worrying about everything about me. The clothes I wear, the way I do my hair, the way I talk, just everything that I thought regarding myself. Although, I have finally learned to reveal to myself all of these things, I had to really ask God to show me how to deal with them. I guess I have always asked him and he, in his timely way, has revealed to me what I didn’t want to see. Yes, the first step was to really face what was there and why I worry so much. It is a work in progress this Christian walk.
I look at my two-year old and how he does not have a care in the world. So free-spirited, not caring of what others think, but just being him. This is what God wants for me, to trust Him, and to lean on Him, and to just be myself.
Moniqua:
I have recently realized that my struggle is the fear of not being good enough. I will be praying for you.
Thank you for sharing the image of your two-year old. That will be a picture that I will remind myself with – that God wants child-like faith. (No worries!)
Renee. loved the video. STOP worrying and START praying. That’s what spoke the most to me. Also the part about doing things because of our expectations. God says His burden is light. I think I should do more, which is not what God wants. I am behind on the reading. I haven’t started on chapter 9 but will get it read tonight! Thanks so much for your video and book lessons!
Blessings,
Soooooo needed this today, yesterday I found a lump in my breast, trying to not let “worry” overtake me. My husband is the only other person that knows. This is a shock to me but not God. Menopause is bringing many changes to my body and prayerfully this is just a natural part not a cancer thing. Thank you for letting me share this, and thank you for your prayers.
Lord I pray especially for Kim right now. I pray in the precious name of Jesus that this will not be cancer. I pray your healing upon her, and especially your love Jesus, Let her just feel your love and care surround her during this time of uncertainty.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen
Thank you Michele.
Praying for you Kim. I”ve had two different scares like you are going through. Last time I had to have two biopsies but both were negative. We have cancer in our family so it was really hard. But I want to encourage you that with two things – one is that hormones do cause all kinds of changes and one of mine ended up being a large fluid cysts which was completely hormone change based. Also, So much progress has been made in breast cancer. The good thing is that you have found this and can find out what it is. Praying you can get to see your Dr soon and in the meantime your heart will be able to give this over to Jesus and know that HE cares for you and He is taking care of you even in this by helping you find it. Praying, praying, praying!!
Thank you so much for the prayers and comforting words. I am fortunate that to date breast cancer isn’t in my family tree. I know God has an end game in this,I just need to keep my focus on Him and follow where He leads. Janie Grace’s song where He leads is great comfort, I really liked the song before now it has new meaning. Again tbank you and others for bringing this before God’s throne.
Kim, I pray that this will not be cancer and that Jesus will calm your fears and help you to rest in Him. Jamie Grace’s song “You Lead” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFmSzL2ppvg – recently comforts me as well. I identify with the fear you’re going through. It’s so difficult not to worry, isn’t it? The wait in not knowing really wears on a person.