Worrier to Warrior
W O R R Y.
I have been a "worrier" for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I worried about almost everything. I remember at the age of eight, I was so frightened at the thought of death that I would not sleep. My parents would give me Bible verses to read as an attempt to help me find peace. I was not saved at the time, so I didn't truly understand the comfort that those truths can bring. Death is part of our destiny, just the door that opens to our eternity, and I was able to get over that fear eventually as I realized this.
Later on, I would find myself worried about other things. I talked about some of these in my last blog post. I worried about image, popularity, my future, and the things going on in this broken, lost world. All of these things would constantly consume my mind. I tend to be an over-thinker. I imagine all of the worst case scenarios in so many circumstances. After experiencing heartache, and going through very challenging times, I find myself to be caught up in worry way too frequently.
I have learned that nothing can help me more when I am in a situation of worry than the promises that the Lord gives to us in His word. I find such great peace when I read things like Philippians 4:6-7, which says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus." (ESV) This is both powerful and convicting. It is so vital that we understand that He is sovereign. The flesh allows us to think that we can control what will happen in our lives. The truth is, only God can do that. In the midst of our trials, we often do everything in our power to take over them. This only adds more worry and stress to our lives. Friends, our lives are in the hands of the Maker of the world. He can meet our every need. Why rely on yourself to handle the stressful times, when you can rest in Jesus?
Worry is exhausting, and that is the bottom line. Matthew 6:25-27 says "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat to what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (ESV) Here, we see that if the Lord will watch over and care for the birds, He will care so much more for us. We are valuable to Him because we are HIS. This is just another example of why we should trust Him to direct our paths, and take care of our problems.
1 Peter 5: 7 says "cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." (ESV) I feel that this is much easier said than done. However, I have found that until I am on my knees and giving everything up to Him, I am bound to the feeling of defeat that is thrown in my face by Satan himself. I heard someone say that "if you have time to worry, you have time to pray." What a change in perspective this gave me! God is so much greater than the defeat we face. If we turn to Him, He can take our world of worry upon Himself. We need to trust in His perfect will. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my very favorite verses. It says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (ESV) What is the purpose behind our anxiety? Why choose to try to handle it all on your own when the Lord will fight for you? John 16:33 says "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world." (ESV) SAY WHAT?! Even though we may only see the trouble, the pain, and the struggles, there is such a beautiful Truth that should be our main focus. This continually blows my mind. He is asking that we simply put our trust in Him, and from that, a peace comes. Allow Christ to take control of your life. Give Him your stress, your worry, and your anxiety.
My prayer for you as you read this is that you would give everything to God. Don't rely on yourself alone to take care of all the stresses that come with this earthly life. Worry gets you absolutely nowhere, and I challenge you (& myself) to keep that in mind. I pray that you will become a "warrior" rather than a "worrier." I pray that you will rest in the arms of Jesus today. He will care for you, just trust in Him.
-Gracie
I have been a "worrier" for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I worried about almost everything. I remember at the age of eight, I was so frightened at the thought of death that I would not sleep. My parents would give me Bible verses to read as an attempt to help me find peace. I was not saved at the time, so I didn't truly understand the comfort that those truths can bring. Death is part of our destiny, just the door that opens to our eternity, and I was able to get over that fear eventually as I realized this.
Later on, I would find myself worried about other things. I talked about some of these in my last blog post. I worried about image, popularity, my future, and the things going on in this broken, lost world. All of these things would constantly consume my mind. I tend to be an over-thinker. I imagine all of the worst case scenarios in so many circumstances. After experiencing heartache, and going through very challenging times, I find myself to be caught up in worry way too frequently.
I have learned that nothing can help me more when I am in a situation of worry than the promises that the Lord gives to us in His word. I find such great peace when I read things like Philippians 4:6-7, which says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus." (ESV) This is both powerful and convicting. It is so vital that we understand that He is sovereign. The flesh allows us to think that we can control what will happen in our lives. The truth is, only God can do that. In the midst of our trials, we often do everything in our power to take over them. This only adds more worry and stress to our lives. Friends, our lives are in the hands of the Maker of the world. He can meet our every need. Why rely on yourself to handle the stressful times, when you can rest in Jesus?
Worry is exhausting, and that is the bottom line. Matthew 6:25-27 says "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat to what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (ESV) Here, we see that if the Lord will watch over and care for the birds, He will care so much more for us. We are valuable to Him because we are HIS. This is just another example of why we should trust Him to direct our paths, and take care of our problems.
1 Peter 5: 7 says "cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." (ESV) I feel that this is much easier said than done. However, I have found that until I am on my knees and giving everything up to Him, I am bound to the feeling of defeat that is thrown in my face by Satan himself. I heard someone say that "if you have time to worry, you have time to pray." What a change in perspective this gave me! God is so much greater than the defeat we face. If we turn to Him, He can take our world of worry upon Himself. We need to trust in His perfect will. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my very favorite verses. It says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (ESV) What is the purpose behind our anxiety? Why choose to try to handle it all on your own when the Lord will fight for you? John 16:33 says "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world." (ESV) SAY WHAT?! Even though we may only see the trouble, the pain, and the struggles, there is such a beautiful Truth that should be our main focus. This continually blows my mind. He is asking that we simply put our trust in Him, and from that, a peace comes. Allow Christ to take control of your life. Give Him your stress, your worry, and your anxiety.
My prayer for you as you read this is that you would give everything to God. Don't rely on yourself alone to take care of all the stresses that come with this earthly life. Worry gets you absolutely nowhere, and I challenge you (& myself) to keep that in mind. I pray that you will become a "warrior" rather than a "worrier." I pray that you will rest in the arms of Jesus today. He will care for you, just trust in Him.
-Gracie
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