Give Up Worrying

Not worrying is easier said than done. . I know that I can leave it all to God and that He is ultimately in control of everything going on in my life, but I still want to control it. I still want to feel that I have some power over any situation that I am in. But then, I just get stressed. I worry. I fear over all that is going on and all that could happen. This is a daily struggle. A moment-by-moment struggle. I need to constantly remind myself to give everything to God. . In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are weary, and He will give us rEsther Similarly, Philippians 4:6-7 says, even when we are anxious, we can pray to Him about everything and rest in His peace, no matter how we are feeling. Because Jesus is Lord of all, and His Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, we can be still, even when the things around us are troubling. . Worrying does us no good. I know this, yet I find myself getting anxious all the time. And every time I find myself getting anxious, I try to remind myself that I can go to God to find rEsther . No matter how long we are anxious, the good news is that God never gives up on us. Jesus knows firsthand what it’s like to be a human living in this stressful, broken world. He empathizes with our struggles, and He doesn’t scold us for worrying. Instead, He invites us to bring all our worries to Him, being totally honest about our thoughts and feelings. In His unshakable love, He has promised to be our rest and to be with us no matter what, and through His Word, His Holy Spirit, and His people (the church) He reminds us that He is with usand that He gives us rest through His death and resurrection. Moment by moment, He is walking with us through everything we face, and one day He will put an end to all worry for good. Bethany Acker . Sometimes, we experience worry that is too much for us to handle on our own, even by praying and reading the Bible. But God wants to help us with worry in lots of ways, including through other people such as medical and mental health professionals who can help us figure out if what we are experiencing is worry, clinical anxiety, or something else. It’s important to remember that we all need help from others, and it’s okay to be honest about our struggles. If you find yourself feeling afraid, stressed, or worried a lot of the time, or if your thoughts keep going to what if scenarios and you can’t seem to stop, who is a trusted adult you could talk to, such as a parent, pastor, teacher, or counselor? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . When you feel worried or anxious, do you feel like you can talk to Jesus about what you’re experiencing? Why or why not? . Read Mark 14:32-34 and Hebrews 4:14-16. How might knowing that Jesus empathizes with all our struggles make it easier for us to be honest with Him? . Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (CSB) Read Verses: Matthew 11:28-Matthew 11:30; Isaiah 41:10

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