Baskadia

Worry has a knack for worming its way into even the most joyful of moments. It’s the great “what if,” the doubt that causes you to question God’s faithfulness.

What if a political problem isn’t resolved? What if my financial difficulties worsen? What if health problems compound? It’s easy to live like we have no control over our own worries, allowing ourselves to spiral down those rabbit holes every time a new one comes to mind. But God’s Word tells us we don’t have to live that way.

Opt-Out of the Downward Spiral through God’s Word

Anxiety. Intrusive thoughts. Fears about the future. Sometimes these are clinical conditions, but often they’re just states of being that we’ve become accustomed to. For most of us, the ability to direct our thoughts is well within our grasp.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled; neither let them be afraid. –John 14:27

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. –Philippians 4:6-7

Replace Your Worry with Trust and Faith

If worry is out of control in your life, chances are good; it’s because you’re living like God is a liar. Not convinced? Let’s look at what God says about His plans for our future.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:19

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

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“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” –Revelation 21:3-4

God’s Word reminds us to replace our fear with trust and faith: a certainty that God’s promises are good, that He will follow through on the plans that He has for us, and that we’ve put our hopes in the right Savior. Choosing to hone in on our concerns about what might go wrong is making a choice to doubt His promises.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. –Psalm 55:22

Focus on the Present

You have control over your experience of life right this moment. In a very real sense, the present is all you’ll ever have; it’s where all the decision-making occurs, where the memories are made, and where your actual life is lived.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. –Matthew 6:34

Allowing your focus to spiral around your worries causes you to hyper-focus on your own concerns. When we do this, we undermine our ability to think clearly, increase decision fatigue, and distance ourselves from the only moment we can do anything about–the present!

Right now, we can choose to trust. Do the next right thing. And give our worries to God again and again because He can handle them when we cannot.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time, He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. –1 Peter 5:6-7