Have you ever worried about something that hasn’t even happened yet? Have you ever felt anxious or stressed with things happening in your life or around you? Well, I have.
When I was younger, I was what you would call a “worry wart”. I was constantly worried. Worried about how I looked. Worried about what others thought of me. Worried I was not doing a good enough job. I would rethink conversations in my head, days after the fact, because I was worried I had made them upset or said the wrong thing. Worry consumed me. It got worse between the ages of 12-15. (There were a lot of family issues going on during that time), it never really got “better”, just masked by other things. I became a HUGE people pleaser, because that way, I didn't have to worry about disappointing someone, even during all that worry and stress, I would pray for what I was worried about. I always thought about this verse, Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. When I would read this verse, for those moments, things were okay, and I didn't need to be worried. But did I truly believe what I read? When my husband and I had our daughter, that first year was pretty rough. I developed bad postpartum anxiety. I was even more stressed and worried. I felt like I was the only one capable of caring for our kiddo. No one else, including my husband, would know how to care for her. I didn’t see the hurt I was causing and the lack of trust I was showing towards people, especially my husband. We did not put God in the center of our lives; therefore, we didn’t have a foundation to stand on. Slowly, with time, things changed. We started to put God first, rely on his timing, and trust his word. It is something I still struggle with, but with trusting God and my husband, I am able to quiet those fears or worries and know that those are not from God. It is amazing to look back on the past 10 years and see just how much putting God first has changed our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. God’s word is powerful, and I truly believe he can help anyone overcome anything. Keep putting your faith and trust in God.
When I was younger, I was what you would call a “worry wart”. I was constantly worried. Worried about how I looked. Worried about what others thought of me. Worried I was not doing a good enough job. I would rethink conversations in my head, days after the fact, because I was worried I had made them upset or said the wrong thing. Worry consumed me. It got worse between the ages of 12-15. (There were a lot of family issues going on during that time), it never really got “better”, just masked by other things. I became a HUGE people pleaser, because that way, I didn't have to worry about disappointing someone, even during all that worry and stress, I would pray for what I was worried about. I always thought about this verse, Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. When I would read this verse, for those moments, things were okay, and I didn't need to be worried. But did I truly believe what I read? When my husband and I had our daughter, that first year was pretty rough. I developed bad postpartum anxiety. I was even more stressed and worried. I felt like I was the only one capable of caring for our kiddo. No one else, including my husband, would know how to care for her. I didn’t see the hurt I was causing and the lack of trust I was showing towards people, especially my husband. We did not put God in the center of our lives; therefore, we didn’t have a foundation to stand on. Slowly, with time, things changed. We started to put God first, rely on his timing, and trust his word. It is something I still struggle with, but with trusting God and my husband, I am able to quiet those fears or worries and know that those are not from God. It is amazing to look back on the past 10 years and see just how much putting God first has changed our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. God’s word is powerful, and I truly believe he can help anyone overcome anything. Keep putting your faith and trust in God.
Posted in Devotional