“When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.”—Psalm 94:18 -19(CEV)

Psychology Today reported on small study done about worry by Penn State University. It revealed that only 9% of what people worried about actually came true. 1 out of 4 participants had zero of their worries happen. Even if this study isn’t 100% accurate, the reality is that much of what we fear might occur, never materializes.

Right now, many may be worried about the future of not just our country but the world. We are living in unknown and unprecedented times. It is easy to be fearful with what we are seeing and hearing. None of this takes God by surprise. We can’t expect God’s best for us if we are paralyzed by fear.

Worry may give me something to do but it will only take me to a place of unrest, especially when I keep replaying in my head possible outcomes. It is hard to have a good attitude and be filled with joy when worry clouds the start of my day. It is an energy sapper. Negative thinking only produces a joyless life. Just because a wrong thought comes into my head doesn’t mean I have to keep it. I can throw it out and replace it with a right one. When I think about good and positive, I go from a pessimist to an optimist and from fearful to confident.

If I slip into a mindset of worry, rather than my feet being grounded in my faith, I am filled with doubt. Satan knows anxious thoughts are one my weak spots. However, the more I fill myself with prayer, thanksgiving and God’s Word, the more easily right thinking becomes a part of me. Because of God’s grace, as I confess my misgivings, God’s compassion and kindness reveal itself to me through His Word. Reading Psalms such as 94:18-19 help me to regain my footing.

God’s Word is the best place to seek solace when I am burdened by fear, worry or going through a difficult time. Through scripture, I find encouragement, hope and strength. In the Psalms you read about the psalmists doubts, fears and hardships, yet they still praise God in the midst of them. As I cling to God’s Word, it sinks into my heart and calms my anxious soul.

It is life changing when you can let your worries slide off of you and onto God’s lap. Worry is a part of how I am wired. I wish it wasn’t. I write about it often because I know if it is a struggle for me, then it is for others too. The smaller things seem to be easier for me to give to God, it’s the bigger challenges where I have a harder time. This is when I have to go back to God’s Word to remind myself of the gift of peace that I can have. As Matthew 6:34 tells me, He does not want me to worry about tomorrow.

The enemy wants to undermine my confidence in God by taking my focus off of Him. This shifts my point of view from heavenly to earthly where my mind changes from trust to doubt. There is no joy with that thinking. This is when I need to pause and dig into God’s truths. As I seek and lean into Him, it helps me put things back in perspective. Seeing things through the lens of our Heavenly Father, guides, counsels and trains us to be the person God has created us to be.

As I pour out my anxious thoughts that fill my mind, my heart becomes lighter. God wants to bless us with peace in His presence. When I keep company with Jesus, my life is much less stressful. It is by no means perfect and the concerns may not go away, but I don’t obsess over them all day.  Jesus wants to carry our load. Will you lay your burdens at His feet today?

Dear Lord

In this moment, I lift up what is heavy on my heart. I release it to You. Help me to keep my eyes on You, what You are doing and where You are leading me. Quiet my mind so I can hear Your voice. Help me to surrender control to You for You are the Lord of my life, not me.  Forgive me when I sow worry. Renew my mind with Your Word when negative thoughts creep into my mind. I give You praise that You alone can settle my anxious soul. Use me as a vessel this week to be plant seeds of hope for someone that is struggling with fear. Thank You for being a God that brings peace and hope. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

November Memory Verse:

I thought Romans 12:18 was the perfect verse for me to imprint on my heart for this month. I am called to live in peace with EVERYONE, not just those that think and act as I do. We can not be a light in the dark if we are acting as the world does when things don’t the way we desire.

 “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”—Romans 12:18 (NLT)

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