Devotions about Worry | from Devotional Christian

Life Support for a Worrywart

March 21, 2011

Worrying seems to be a trait common to those who like structure and predictability. I confess I worry until I can bring my troubles to the Lord, but I didn’t realize that my worrying was actually a demonstration of my lack of trust. Then Proverbs 19:3 caught my eye during my daily Bible reading:

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.” Proverbs 19:3

I like the word “fretting” even though it is not used as commonly as in times past. If you don’t know what fretting is, know that it means agitated from worrying. We all worry, but fretting seems so much more intense and longer lasting.

We can liken fretting with a dog chewing a bone. He gnaws and gnaws and gnaws but seems to accomplish very little in breaking down a good strong bone. Fretting accomplishes nothing worthwhile.

Unconsciously seeking a way around what God is doing, fretting signals a desire to wrest control from the Almighty. It is as if we are saying to Him, “step aside, I can do better.” Fretting reveals our ignorance of God’s just nature and righteous character. (Acts 3:13-14, 1 John 2:1).

Playing the “what if” game leads to reactions ranging from mild fear to total terror. The Apostle Paul understood fear. Think about how many times he entered into a city wondering if his testimony of Jesus would lead to beatings, stoning, and imprisonment. Yet despite his sufferings, he refused to give in to fear. His secret is found in Philippians 4:7:

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Learning that the Lord is able and willing to help in time of need is critical to developing trust. Start developing your faith with these three steps:

First: Read God’s Word, highlighting the many promises He makes to us. Here are some of my favorites:

“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

“So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6

“…The Lord is the strength of my life…” Psalm 27:1

“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

Second: Pray for more faith. This is a prayer you can be assured He will answer.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

Third: Submit yourself to God, allowing Him to do what’s best for you. Consider this verse in the Book of Romans: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:3

Take to heart the words of the father of the demon possessed child in Mark 9:24, “…Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” If we are so foolish as to reject our Lord’s aid because of unbelief, we will unnecessarily fulfill the beginning of Proverbs 19:3: “The foolishness of man perverteth his way”. Then we really will have something to worry about.

Tags Bible devotional, Bible promises, Devotional Christian, learning to trust God, Life Support for a Worrywart, Linda Hull, Overcome worry, Proverbs 19:3, steps to build faith, worry
Comments: #2

God’s Cure for Worry

October 30, 2009

Filed In Daily Devotionals

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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. Phil 4:4-7

In these verses, God gives us several commands: Always rejoice. Be reasonable. Never worry. Come to God with your requests about everything.

What commands! Why would God give us such extreme commands? It is easy to look at these verses and think “that’s not what God really expected! It can’t apply to me… that’s impossible!”

At times in my life, I can look at those commands and become discouraged… My heart is prone to worry about so many things… various health complications, stress at work, finances, the “unknown” in my future, etc. I often find it easier to complain rather than to rejoice. My thoughts are often not reasonable. I forget to come to God in prayer.

Today was one of those days for me. I woke up worried about everything. My heart immediately welled up in fear. “God, this doesn’t make sense… why is this happening? Won’t you step in and fix this?” On and on the cycle goes… and I quickly find my heart overwhelmed at my circumstances and discouraged because I’m not obeying these commands to not worry and to come to God in prayer.

I’m grateful that these “impossible” promises are surrounded by amazing promises of God. I’m not merely commanded to rejoice in the middle of hard circumstances just because; I am commanded to rejoice because I remember that my God is near. I’m not commanded to just “buck up” and deal with my anxious heart; I’m commanded to do that remembering that God welcomes me to come to Him in my need. He wants to give me peace. He wants to guard my heart. That’s why I don’t have to fear, complain or worry… my God is near and He cares!

So he supplies perfectly measured grace to meet the needs of the godly. For daily needs there is daily grace; for sudden needs, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. God’s grace has given wonderfully, but not wastefully; freely but not foolishly; bountifully but not blindly. -John Blanchard

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Ps 94:19

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

[copyrighted, 2009, Emily Schankweiler]