Let Go of Worry: Trust God with Your Anxiety - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - October 30
iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women
Audio By Carbonatix
By Michelle S. Lazurek, Crosswalk.com
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
Finances are an area of my life that I have found difficult to give over to God. Because my husband and I have gone through financial hardships throughout our marriage, it is difficult not to believe that God might do those things again. When I am anxious that he might do those things again, it is hard to trust God that what happened to me in the past won’t happen again.
Recently, I was feeling overwhelmed by all the financial bills that we had. Bills were mounting, and I had no way to pay them. Because my job got cut a few months ago due to budget cuts, I didn’t have an income to fall back upon. One morning, I spent time with God. “Lord,” I prayed, “help me to figure out how to pay these bills. Help me not to feel overwhelmed, but take it one step at a time.” As someone who struggles with anxiety, one of the strategies I learned to cope with my anxiety is to take things one step at a time. This means I need to focus on today, and when it builds, I can focus on it. I tend to obsess over the future, wondering how I will handle the problems that are headed my way.
God promised that we would have trouble, but also that we would not be alone. He told us not to focus on tomorrow but rather to take it one step at a time and focus on today only. Although that is easier said than done, it is essential for me to keep that in mind when I’m feeling anxious. When I accomplish and complete what is required of me today, taking it one day at a time, I’m less obsessed with the future. God also wants me to present all my prayer requests to him, giving them to him so he can work on my behalf. That allows me not to feel so overwhelmed by bills that aren’t due now but might be in the future.
How do you control fear in your life? Do you tend to become overwhelmed when you think about the future? Do you choose to focus on one day at a time so that you can complete what’s only required of you today and not what’s coming up in the future?
In today’s world, where people are filled with anxiety, we need to be the example in every area of our lives and give over everything to him. That includes the area of our lives that we find difficult to control and may feel overwhelmed by in the future. For me, this includes finances.
If I’m honest, there are certain areas of my life that I may never be free from worry and anxiety. I tend always to worry, because it gives me a false sense of control. It feels less overwhelming when I feel like I can control my situation. However, God promises me that when I give over my prayer requests to him, fully trusting in his provision and protection, I will have nothing to fear.
The next time you feel anxious, take time to pray and give it over to God. Don’t keep taking it back because it feels comfortable. Instead, give it over to him in complete surrender. When we fully surrender to him in every area of our lives, including those that feel overwhelming or impossible to combat, we submit to God. We also demonstrate our faith in him; he grows our faith like never before.
As Christians, let us be an example to the world that does not choose anxiety. Let us present our petitions to God, fully trusting in his provision and protection. Help us understand that he has ultimate control over everything.
Father, let us be people who give over everything to you. Let us not be people who are fraught with anxiety, but rather let us be people who rely on you for our peace, as we fully trust in you, our savior. Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spritual Reset Podcast. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.
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