Have you ever noticed how easy it is to worry? I don’t even watch the news (a virtual fear factory), and yet just going through life gives opportunity after opportunity for me to get caught up in anxious thoughts.
Jesus recognized this challenge and invites, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV). Similarly, Peter encouragesus to humble ourselves and to cast our cares on God, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7-8).
God didn’t design us to operate in the shadow of fear or to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. In fact, in the parable of the sower, He says all these cares choke out the Word in our lives, reducing our effectiveness. Jesus came that we might have life, life more abundantly (John 10:10). He’s not returning for a bedraggled, exhausted, control freak of a bride sagging under a load of care.
In the face of these cares, Jesus offers us His peace! He told us not to let our hearts be troubled and not to let them be afraid (John 14:27). The Word further tells us not to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). God would never direct us to do something we are incapable of doing. So how do we beat worry?
I love what David wrote, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8 NKJV).There is freedom in surrendering to God, humbly acknowledging we can’t figure it all out on our own and admitting we need His help. There is release in letting the clenched jaw and tense muscles relax as we relinquish control and lay our burdens down, burdens we were never meant to carry.
Here are a few practical ways to find freedom and relief from worry:
- Pray. Hand over your problems by name, asking for God’s help without telling Him how to fix them. And thank Him—for who He is, for His past faithfulness to you, for hearing and answering. You might write or type it all out, go for a walk and talk out loud with God, cry out to Him on your knees, or perhaps do it in song. (I’ve done all four!) What matters is that you pour out your heart and hold nothing back.
- Talk it out. God gave us brothers and sisters in Christ and designed us to share one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
- Change your focus. As you turn your focus from your problems to God’s lovingkindness and history of faithfulness, it changes your perspective (Psalm 73; 94:19).
After letting your cares go, find something you can do for someone else. If the enemy suggests you pick up those cares again, resist him. Releasing all your cares to God and helping others is cathartic and does wonders for your outlook.
Thanks, JB – very helpful insights and practical guidance.