Letting Go of Worry
Ok i’ve gotta admit something. I’ve been bad. Like real bad. Like cried on my way to work this morning bad. I’ve just been so down and discouraged and frustrated with where I’m headed.
I have been consumed with worry. Worrying about my book, my business, my finances, my future, my standing. Everything.
But then last night I got called out.
A voice in my head said this, “If you would just spend half the amount of time you do worrying, and instead focus on Me, think about how much better off you’d be.”
And that shook me.
How much time have I wasted sitting here fretting about where I’ll be or what I’ll become instead of focusing on where God has me now? How much time have I spent worrying about how I matched up to other people when God says I am special and chosen and worthy just as I am? How much time have I wasted worrying about my future when God has had my path laid out from the beginning? How much time have I wasted trying to build up myself rather than build up His kingdom?
A lot.
So today I want to encourage you. I want to call you out too.
First off…
Give it to God
That job, that relationship, that to-do list, that future. Give it to Him. Right now. Be open and honest. Confess your worries. Hand Him the baggage. Lean on His understanding, not your own. Take a deep breath. Let Him lighten the load.
Philippians 4:6-7 “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 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Focus on Him
Dig into the Word. Talk to Him more. Spend time with Him. Stop adding things to the to-do list just to be busy. Put away your phone. Be intentional. Focus on bettering yourself by bettering your relationship with Him. When you take your gaze off of Him and start looking back at the worry, you start sinking. Look to Him. Stay afloat.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Choose obedience over outcome
A big reason why I worry is because I’m so focused on the outcome of situations. I want to know what my future looks like. I want all the tasks on my to-do list to be crossed off. I want to know how certain situations are going to unfold. I want to know what others will think.
But ya know what?
When I instead focus on just being obedient in the moment, I’m not anxious about how things will unfold. I don’t have anxiety about the outcome. I have faith that things will fall into place as they’re supposed to.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Be positively in the present
We get so caught up in what’s coming next or what might happen. Rather than worry about tomorrow, let’s live in today. We can’t ever get it back. Think about what’s good in your life right now. Focus on those things you have been blessed with. Let go of those things you let slip by in the past and those things you earn so desperately for in the future. Live in today with light.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Worry is easy to fall into… I get it. But there’s another thing that’s easy to fall into. Can ya guess what it is? Jesus. He will take care of us. He will provide. He will answer our prayers. He will catch us when we let go.
All we have to do is have the faith to fall. Let go of your worry today.