As a single girl, before I married my husband Zack, I had so many fears and worries running through my head. “What if I never get married?” “What if no guy likes me?” “What if don’t get married until I’m 40?”
Fear. Worry. Lack of trust.
All of my worries were completely in vain. Around three years later Zack, my now amazing husband, asked me to be his wife.
Since I was no longer worried about getting married, I figured I was in the clear of my worry issues. Ha! Not even close.
Little did I know how much hard work and money it took to plan a wedding (much less a really large wedding).
My wedding budget was squeezed on every side and at some points I just didn’t see how God would provide for our needs.
I remember crying one night and asking God things like: “Was it a mistake to invite so many people?” “How are we going to afford the catering?” “How can we possibly afford a professional photographer?”
Fear. Worry. Lack of trust.
In the end, I got married and watched God miraculously provide for all of our wedding needs. All of my worries were completely in vain.
Since I was now happily married and no longer worried about planning a wedding, I figured I was in the clear of my worry issues.
Hmm… Not quite.
My picturesque vision of becoming a mom within the first two years of marriage slowly vanished.
After five years of marriage I had nothing to show except two devastating miscarriages and a house distinctly void of children’s laughter. I struggled in my heart and asked God questions like, “Why did you take those babies from me?” “Why can’t I get pregnant like normal women?” “What if I’m never able to have kids?”
Fear. Worry. Lack of trust.
As I anticipate my six year wedding anniversary, God still hasn’t given Zack and me a child, but He has given me a new perspective.
God has opened my eyes to how weak my faith has been. He has shown me that my worries and fears of not having a baby have done me no good.
In fact, all of my worrying has never done me any good.
Through lots of prayer and reading God’s Word, I now see that trusting in His plan and patiently waiting on His timing is far more powerful than worrying.
Over the past year of my life I have learned the power of surrender. I have learned the power of trust. I’m not perfect at it, but I’ve come a long way. And by surrendering my will and trusting in God, I have found immense peace.
Like me, I’m sure there are things going on in your life right now that aren’t easy. I’m sure there are tough circumstances, people, and issues you’re tempted to worry about right now.
If so, I know you’ll find the following list extremely helpful and encouraging.
Worry doesn’t have to have the upper hand.
Peace truly can rule in your heart…regardless of what you’re facing.
I want to share with you six powerful reasons you don’t have to worry. I discovered these truths and verses while reading the notes in my NASB Study Bible.
- The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or 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?”
- Worrying about the future hinders your efforts for today.
Matthew 6:26 “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?”
- God does not ignore those who depend on Him.
Matthew 6:28-30 “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
- Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
Matthew 6:31-32 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”
- God has amazing opportunities for us, and worrying keeps us from them.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
- Living for today keeps us from being consumed with worry about tomorrow.
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.”
I hope those six powerful truths bring hope and encouragement to your heart like they did mine. The hard trials in our lives are great opportunities for us to grow in our trust in God.
[Tweet “The more we fill our mind with this truth, the easier it will be to resist worry. “]
If you’re struggling with worry right now, I encourage you to print off those six reasons (along with their verses) and read them every day. God’s Word has the power to transform our perspective and give us hope and peace.
What about you?
- In what ways are you struggling to trust God today? What tempts you to worry?
- Which of the numbers from above did you find most helpful?
- Share one example of a way you overcame worry in the past and how you did it.
