Lately I’ve been waking in the middle of the night filled with anxiety and worry. My body is tired, yet my brain is alert and racing through thoughts. The last couple of nights I’ve even woke Todd — only to have him calmly say,
Have you prayed about this?
Have you given it over to Jesus?
Can you let it go?
Let it go? How in the world does one let go of something that wakes them from slumber? Yet, deep down, I know that I am desperately clinging onto my worry. Somehow I’ve equated a good worry with getting God’s attention — see God? It’s really bothering me so please notice — those were my thoughts. So I wake up. And fret.
And sin.
You see, when I allowed my brain to cycle through worry I wasn’t living in faith. I was living in the ideas and emotions of this world. God goes beyond emotions. The world tells me to fear. Or that I’m a failure. Or that it will never work out. And that creates anxiety. And worry. Yet, the Lord, in His Word, says,
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…. (Matthew 6:25a)
The Scripture doesn’t say that it’s okay to worry 15 minutes and let it go. Or if you worry enough then the Lord will see that you need help. No. It simply says do not worry. So when I wake up and cling to my worry then I am not being obedient to Him, my gracious God. My God who goes way beyond the worldly emotion that so often dictates my attitude and mood. He is solid, unchanging, truth.
But it’s hard. It’s challenging when all that we currently know is of this world. I would tell my husband that there was no way I could stop worrying—what if things fell apart? Yet, he calmly and confidently told me to give it to Jesus.
So I did.
And the next thing I knew it was 5:30 am and sweet Samuel was softly crying in his crib waiting to nurse.
And Jesus said, Peace be with you. (John 20:20)
18 comments
Thank you so much! I really needed to hear this today. Thank you for sharing!
Blessings,
Kate
You’re right…it is so hard to let go of our worry. I hope that you can continue to give it to God. I’m sure you love hearing the sound of sweet little Samuel crying….you’re so blessed.
You are so, so right, Rachel. It’s very hard to let go of your worries. And then when we know we are sinning through worrying, we worry more about that and… well, that’s how the cycle goes.
Thank you so much for sharing! Your post was very encouraging to those of us who think we are the only ones in the world who worry.
In Christ,
Lizzy Rose
Glad to hear you were able to get back to sleep and for your husband’s wise counsel. I know the struggle you write about. Thanks for the encouragement to focus on God’s Word and not worry.
Blessings,
andreas
I found you by way of Surviving Motherhood and Karen isn’t in MN, but I am so I thought I would say hi. Then, I read your post and had to say it’s amazing! I LIKE to worry. But the more I am learning to hand everything over to God, the more I realize that I like THAT better!
Hi Rachel,
Well, I see Gianna already told you I’m not in MN. I live in Michigan and the flood in our basement happened as the result of the water connection to the refrigerator becoming disconnected. Water ran on the floor, through the ceiling and into the basement all night last Saturday. Big mess. But it’s almost dry now. *Whew!*
As to this worry issue – I once heard someone say that’s the one thing with which God will never help you. That is, He’ll never help you worry. Only trust.
Sometimes I think, If this or that would just happen, then I wouldn’t have to worry about this thing. Then God gently reminds me, I don’t need to worry regardless of WHAT happens. He’s got it under control!
So nice to meet you today!
Blessings,
Karen
Rachel
Worry is a sin. I am a constant worrying but I since I realized that it was a sin I turn my worries over to the Lord.
Thanks for the wonderful message and reminder of Trust our Lord.
Blessings
Janet
Thank-you for sharing! It was a wonderful reminder to me to NOT WORRY- God is in control & fills my heart with peace.
Jessica
THAT WAS AWESOME! On the 19th of this month I wrote a blog post about what I do to help me stop worrying; it’s 50 miles of rambling long… (it’s a little embarrassing… but I choose NOT to worry about it!) and perhaps I should have just said what you did, “turn it over to Christ.” I also wrote a blog post about “letting go” on Jan 30th. That one I really liked. I think I might know what you are going through. I feel for you. I will pray for you. But with faith in Jesus Christ, and the decision to turn things over to Him… you’re on your way already.
Good for you! Thanks for sharing. 😉
Thank you SO much for this! I so needed to hear this today. There are some health concerns with Peanut, and while we’re waiting to find out if there is truly anything to be concerned about, guess what I’ve been doing? Yep. Worrying. Thank you for the reminder that worry is in direct opposition to God’s word and His will for me.
This is my first visit to your blog. I ‘happened’ upon it when I clicked on the link from the person who designed your blog. My friend Beth of “I’m Heading Towards My Destiny” also had her blog designed by this person.
But then I read this post and I thought …this can’t be an accident or just happened. I needed to read your post. I too wake up at night with worry at times. I’ve been praying and my goal for 2010 has been to trust and obey …no matter what.
I think I need to follow you as you really touched me. Thank you and I will pray about everything.
Blessings,
Debbie
Thanks for stopping by my blog! <3 yours! 7 kids! Wow! I don’t know how you do it! I’m one of 7 and we were quite the handful! But I wouldn’t change it for anything =)
Have a blessed day!
Girl, this was so good and pure that I’ve got tears in my eyes. Oh how I needed this today.
Oh I am a big fat worrier, so I could certainly relate to this. Your husband’s advice — so simple, so true…so hard to really, truly follow. I’m glad you found peace.
And I just read the saga of Samuel and the sequin star — I don’t know where I’ve been and how I missed it…but thank GOD he is okay!
Rachel,
This is so very true. WOW! Thanks dear for sharing. Praying for you:) Have a great vacation!
God is so so good!
~Blessings
Dorcas
Know that I’m praying!
Psalms 27:1, 4-5 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?…One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Prayer Bears
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It is hard for me to give my “worry points” to the Lord. But then I realize that when I do, I am simply not trusting Him to take care of them. Thank you for sharing from your heart today!