For those joining in the Faith Barista Jam today: At the end of the post, click the blue button to submit the url
of your blog post on the topic of "Letting Go Of Worry". If you don't have a post to share, no worries. Just comment!We can trust God. Then, why do we still worry?
Worry feels so intuitive that the times I don’t do it, I worry that I’m being careless. That’s why I love vacations so much. It’s like getting a permission slip to stop worrying. Sometimes I try to cure myself of worry by psyching myself out. I tell myself to pretend I’m on vacation.
It doesn’t work.
Another tactic I’ve used to stop worrying is to combine pure determination with logic or even reciting memory verses.
I can do it! I tell myself. But, white-knuckling gets tiring. Worse yet, I end up with an added dose of guilt for not standing up to worry.
I was praying faithfully about the things that bothered me, but I couldn’t shake my worries.
Am I Really Important To God?
So, what’s keeping me from letting go?
“Do not worry…
Look at the birds of the air,
that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?”
~ Jesus in Matthew 6:26
I know the Sunday School answer. But, the answer my heart gives is faint. I’m not entirely convinced that I’m enough.
It even feels a bit egotistical to ask whether I’m really all that important to God. After all, hasn’t the key always been to focus on God and not myself?
But, here Jesus is, telling us not to worry for the simple reason that God thinks we’re important.
It sounds so good that my skeptical heart feels it’s too good to be true. I get the same feeling every time I see those emails clog up my spam box, telling me I can get a free iPad for just taking a survey.
Carrying My Rocks
I realize the reason I can’t shake my worries even though I pray is this: Every time I lift up my concerns and problems to God in prayer, I quietly slip those rocks of burdens back into my bag and carry them out with me at Amen.
I know God means well, but I just would feel better if I had them back. Because, after all, who knows if God is really that happy with me?
Better take care of me.
Voila. That is how worry litters my path.
What God Wants
There is a happy ending to this story because Jesus really is very kind. He does love me so very much that He spoke to me during a song we sang one Sunday Service.
God is bigger than my mountain,
bigger than my valley,
bigger than my problem,
bigger than my pain,
Our God, God is faithful.~ Lyrics to “God is Faithful”
by Norman Hutchins
Maybe if I let go of trying to manage my life, I would see God leading me through it.
God is faithful, not only to do what He intends to do.
God is faithful to love me. He pursues me because He actually wants me to trust Him.
You are very important to me, Bonnie. Give me a chance to prove my love to you.
Let go of your worries and take my hand.
What’s Following You
If you look behind you and find worry and preoccupation dogging you — as they have me — turn with me to take a chance with Jesus.
Let the worst fears see the light of day. Let the plate you’ve been juggling fall. See how God can take matters into His hands. See how God can take you in His hands.
We learn day by day, to see surely goodness and mercy following us — as we bleep like sheep and let our problems play out in our Shepherd’s hands.
Maybe we’d end up discovering how much we’re really worth.
I’m sure of it.
God is faithful.
~~~~~
What are your top 1 or 2 worries?
Visualize yourself leaving those worries at the throne of Christ the next time you pray and leave them there at “Amen”.
Jesus knows we will return to try and load up worries back into our packs. So this exercise is a daily expression of faith that comes with an unending supply of grace. We are free from guilt and judgment each time it happens.
Share how you let go of worry. I would love to hear!
Listen & Enjoy
Listen and enjoy this wonderful praise song that inspired today’s post. I hope it encourages your heart like it does mine today!
*** NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN — FAITH BARISTA JAM! ***
Faith Barista Jam Thursdays — I serve up a topic of faith, you write the post. Keep faith fresh with a faith prompt and add your voice to this community.
Today’s topic: Letting Go Of Worry
Submit your post on today’s topic by clicking on the blue button below “Add Your Link”. If you don’t have a blog, share by posting a comment!
Next week’s 9/30 Topic: Discovering God’s Purpose For Me
Approach it any way you feel inspired! Only required ingredient: keep it real. Thanks for serving your personal brews!
Build the Keep Fresh Fresh Community: Link back to Faith Barista or grab the Faith Barista Jam Badge to place in your post. Click here.
It’s a jam session. As time allows, say hi & drop a comment when visiting the community faith blends!
Photo courtesty of Photobucket.
36 Comments
[…] to the Faith Barista’s Faith Jam. Click here to read other contributions on the topic “Letting Go of Worry.” Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and […]
Bonnie. Great topic this week for the jam. We are all so consumed with life and yes, worry hits all of us. And yes, as a man, I have to have a certain tough exterior, which only exasperates the inner man. Can’t let it show! Anyway, I joined you jam and blogged about Alfred E Neuman over at Red Letter Believers.
You’ve nailed it Bonnie. “Does God care about me?” That is the most important thing, and yet so many other issues and concerns can cloud what should be the most important thing.
My number one worry is failing to lead my family in the manner they need. That’s when I lean on this Scripture.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
Thanks sister for encouraging us today!
Let’s see, family, job, money. I think a better question would be what don’t I worry about? I try not to let my worries consume or paralyze me though. That’s probably what I pray about most.
.-= Frank´s last blog ..The Broken Vase =-.
[…] Faith Barista is orchestrating a faith jam on the topic of worry. For me worry has always been sort of an opposite to faith. I have to admit that faith is somewhat […]
It’s been/is a process….to discover He is good…maybe not particularly safe but good, oh so very good.
.-= becky´s last blog ..Daniel 11 – 12 Luke 6 =-.
That verse became my theme song when I lost my sister 7 years ago…she left behind 3 kids and I so worried about them. God kept bringing me back to this verse and it slowly became heart knowledge and not head knowledge!! Not only did I fully TRUST God with my nieces and nephew, I was also letting everyday worries behind…TRUSTING in the big stuff always floods over into the small stuff. Though, I have to admit there are still moments when I cling to long and try to fix things myself…it is a learning process…on a side note: I have a tendency to be drawn to birds now too!!
This topic is a sticky one for me. I’ve “worried” with worry all my life; it’s one of those strongholds of sin that I want to overcome. But I can’t on my own power. As you said, I tried all those “white-knuckling” methods, too, and none of them lasted. It’s only through the power of Jesus that I’ve made any progress at all. And it’s only in His strength that I’ll be able to go further with letting go. I do want to.
So thanks, Bonnie, for choosing this topic. I look forward to visiting around the blogs and gleaning the good news from others, too.
.-= Lisa notes…´s last blog ..I’m returning his gift =-.
We all worry sbout worry, don’t we?
I’ve added a link to a post I shared in January.. but it fits the theme!
.-= HisFireFly´s last blog ..One Word Carnival – Brokenness =-.
It’s hard not to worry. My biggest worry is that I’m not good enough. I know I am, but sometimes those little voices get the best of me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
.-= Amy Nabors´s last blog ..Is My Worry a Hindrance =-.
“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever…”
Isak Dinesen
I worry about not achieving perfection, which truly isn’t a God-filled dream. It’s down right unattainable. Pounding in my head are little ghost voices saying”You’re not good enough.” But the voices are ghosts, they’re dead. I worry about rejection, but I know I have a God who tells my I’m beautifully and wonderfully made, and I will never leave or forsake. Why worry–ghosts. Why not-God
My biggest worry right now is financial. And frankly, this is something I never thought I’d ever have to worry about. While I was growing up, finances were always a struggle. My dad worked in construction on Long Island so if the weather wasn’t conducive to being outside, he didn’t get work and hence …no pay. So, I grew up seeing my mom worry about this uncertainty.
I married a very smart and creative man. I thought I’d never have to worry about this. But life happens. I’ve learned that I must keep my eyes on Jesus who is the Only One who knows all and is sufficient for ALL my needs.
I also heard something recently about giving it all to God. Place your burdens in His hands but have your hands facing downward. This way you won’t be tempted to take it back in that position it’s hard to do so. I hope that illustration makes sense. It’s easier to see when someone shows you visually. 🙂
I loved jamming again this week with you Bonnie. You are the real deal and I love that about you.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Letting Go of Worry =-.
“I realize the reason I can’t shake my worries even though I pray is this: Every time I lift up my concerns and problems to God in prayer, I quietly slip those rocks of burdens back into my bag and carry them out with me at Amen.”
I love that line. It’s so true.
I never worry about finances or how we’ll pay the bills. My worries seem to always center around nonessential things like what people think about me, how my decisions may affect someone, or family. Admittingly, worry about our country seems to hit number one these days.
.-= Nikole Hahn´s last blog ..Book Excerpt- Decision Time =-.
worry is such a controlling aspect of life. It’s unfortunate we don’t let go more often.
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..Letting Go of Worry =-.
This is something we all struggle with worry which means a basic lack of trust in the truth that God REALLY does care for us. It’s about fear. This week, God has revealed certain fears that were plaguing me mind. Ones I’d gotten so use to, I hardly recognized them for what they were. He reveals them so that when He removes them He gets the glory 🙂 He always tells me what He will do before He does it. So I’m excited about Him showing them to me – because I know what follows – freedom! He’s done it time and time again. Those fears exist because of a lack of trust in His care.
How to move out of worry/fear? Seek Him and abide in His truth. He will bring the source of the worry to the center then replace it with His truth – writing that truth on your heart – then you will be free from it. It is His work, not ours. And He is faithful to His promises.
Psalm 34:4 I SOUGHT the Lord and He heard Me and delivered me from all my fears.
Rachel
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Abiding in the ENTIRE Word of God =-.
I think you’ve hit on such an important thing. The command “do not worry…but pray” is just another command unless we back it up with the knowledge of His love and care. He is most definitely faithful! He cannot be anything other than.
One thing I will force myself to do when I face the worries and fears is recount all the ways God has come through in the past, my past and all the amazing stories of the Bible. I’ve been grafted into the vine and those are my stories too! I have to let gratitude overwhelm the negativity and worries I have let creep in and try to establish dominance. It’s always a process though.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Bonnie!
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..How to Draw a Crowd =-.
1)Growing old and nothing to show for my life 2) Running out of time
Enjoy my family. Plan adventures. Pray all the time. Remember this life is temporary.
Hi Bonnie
I am the princess of worrying lol! Meaning I know I’m a daughter of the King of Kings…but it’s so hard to truly lay my worries at His feet sometimes. I worry about my two sons (Daniel 24 & Justin 21) making a commitment to serve Jesus and being single for the rest of my life (I’m only 40.) Your post on God being faithful was a blessing to read. The verse bout the sparrow is one of my favs.
Blessings
Stephanie
You’re right on! I linked up. Funny, I was thinking about this today… I can always use a reminder to not have a “skeptical” (perfect word!) heart.
[…] Serving up this post for Bonnie Gray’s Faith Barista Jam, “Letting Go of Worry.” […]
I didn’t get a post written this week, but I thought about it a lot. If I was to write about worry, what would I say? I really couldn’t think of anything.
Then yesterday happened. Our A/C broke a few weeks ago and we spent $400 to get it fixed. Then it broke down again – same issues. The repairman came out and took one look, and said, “It’s not looking good”. After some digging around outside, he said that the compressor was ruined and the box that connects the compressor to the house and the rest of the unit caught on fire. The part that had been replaced a few weeks ago was meant to prevent the compressor from failing, but it wasn’t enough and it still literally burned up.
Also, yesterday morning, my youngest had some kind of seizure-like episode while at school. I’m usually helping out at the school during the time Miguel is in his class, but lately there hasn’t been much work to do, so I’ve been leaving. Well, we were looking for something to do and the secretary had a project come up. Right as we were finishing the project, Miguel’s teacher came in and I rushed to him. He’s ok and the doctor didn’t know what to make of it (just so happened that we had an appointment scheduled for today – coincidence? I think not.).
God has definitely been protecting my family this week – from keeping our house from catching on fire, to giving me just the right amount of work to keep me at school so I could take care of Miguel when he needed me. His timing has been perfect (as always)!
Here’s the thing: If God can orchestrate events so that I’m in the right place at the right time, and if he can cause a fire to burn itself out without burning my whole house down, I have NOTHING to worry about! God is in control of the details of my life and He’s not afraid to show me every once in a while. I’m praising Him for his protection of my family. And you know what? Other things that I’ve been worrying about lately just haven’t seemed so worrisome since yesterday.
Now, we just need to figure out how to pay for a complete new A/C system…..but I’m not worried. =D
.-= Rachel @ the science of music´s last blog ..Don’t go shopping with Alex he can’t keep a secret! =-.
My most common fear…that I’ll lose my children or my husband. I guess that’s a lot of people’s!
Beautiful post, sweet friend. Letting my concerns and problems play out in my Shepherd’s hands…YES. This bleating sheep needed this today.
Thank you so much!
.-= Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms´s last blog ..Worry =-.
I cant believe this week how much i really needed to focus on doing just this. To stop talking about putting my trust, my faith in God and actually doing it. Its been a hard week but it all the turmoil and heartache i think i have finally grasped that i have to let go xx
.-= Saea´s last blog ..Letting Go of Worries =-.
[…] as a child and how it relates to us letting go of worry. Great way to look at it! (Also part of the Faith Barista Jam that you should check […]
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Glynn Young, edcyzewski, Lisa Burgess, HisFireFly, FaithBarista and others. FaithBarista said: In Case You Missed It… My Skeptical Heart http://bit.ly/bioL0k Letting Go Of Worry #FaithJam >> Stop By & Share Your Thoughts! […]
I don’t have time to post on my own blog …so for now this comment will do. 😉
We all worry don’t we? I must say my biggest worry revolves around my 3 children. Am I being too hard on them? Maybe I need to be harder? Are they going to need lots of therapy when they get older because of my ways? Are they going to be therapist to others because of what they have lived through? {ha!} Are they liked by their friends? Why don’t their friends call more? Are they happy? Do they love their life? Do they REALLY love their life?
Oh..I think I need to eat some ice cream the more I think about these above worries. {See I am an emotional eater…so I will worry about that now too..}
I am going to try to leave my prayers/my worries with God from now on..
How often we need reminding not to worry. I was worried yesterday. It steals my joy and refuses to allow peace to settle, so in the end I journal my heart out, and God’s reminds me of so many previous worries that He so capably took care of- WHEN I HANDED THEM OVER! I say, sorry, God. Yes, You are faithful. I ‘do a David” like in Psalms and as I remember previous issues that I have worried over and remind myself of God’s amazing supernatural provisions for these [ when finally handed over] then my faith begins to rise and I find myself able to hand this present worry over, and place it in ‘the box for God to do.’
The secret is in leaving it there! And reminding myself that if I take it back to worry over some more, God will not be able to do all HE could with it; I will be limiting the possible answers. BFGTD = code= Box for God To Do.
So I am a little late in reading this, but had to chime in! Worry plagued me for so much of my walk with Christ, until I laid it all out for God. I confessed my unbelief that I didn’t in fact trust that He really was good and had my best interests in mind. I confessed that my faith was small in His ability to control all things, and asked…..begged for greater faith….and that He would increase my belief! Slowly I went to a place with God I never had before…I laid down my worst case scenarios….if these things happen….I will be okay….I don’t have the grace I need for that today…..today I only have grace for today….if that happens tomorrow, I will have the grace I need when I need it….because HE IS GOOD! He isn’t playing games, He hasn’t forgotten and He has every single thing in the palm of His hand…so I can trust Him! Slowly I have been felt myself free from the worry that used to paralyze me, and when it creeps back in, I pray for greater faith, and ask that He would help be believe once again! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..1000 Gifts =-.
Just left my bedroom where I was in great need to spend time with Jesus. Worry had come..so I needed to stop ‘picking up those rocks’ and just get alone with Him and allow His peace to enter in…I KNEW my heart was anxious (worry!)..so I needed to just come before His presence and allow His love to minister to me..than downstairs I come,,and here I am..and WHAM..hallelujah..lol..God IS good..this was AWESOME GIRL…God IS good!! All the time…Thank you for sharing your heart with us, and Father God, thank You for leading me here tonight…amen amen amen
.-= Angela´s last blog ..BIRTHDAY GIVE AWAY =-.
Incredible.
I just wrote a spiritual exercise (or call it devotional practice, or guided prayer time) for just THIS thing, describing it as what will help one “lift the heavy weight” of concern or struggle.
I hope many of you will try it, and feel refreshed by God’s Spirit and strength. It’s 2-4 min long. ENJOY
Guaranteed to de-Stress/worry less. http://wp.me/pri9O-WQ
.-= Lisa Colón DeLay´s last blog ..WEDNESDAY’s 5 Min retreat 3 of 5 =-.
[…] 9. My Skeptical Heart: Letting Go of Worry […]
I would like to share my worry. I have been trying for two years to have a sibling for my son connor and yet every month Its a no. I pray daily for this to happen or release me but yet worry follows me. Just yesterday I had a break through my friend told me she was expecting again and it did not knock the wind out of me. Thank you Jesus. Maybe I am making head way but every day is a struggle please pray for me.
…taking all your worrys to Jesus and laying them at his feet is a comforting sounding metaphor but its not practical when your being plagued by obsessive/relentless thoughts of worry…, Trust in God must be LEARNED..this ‘trust God’ phrase so frequently tossed around of is actually a LEARNED behavior..this learning begins by first gaining control of the raging/incessant thoughts,but to accomplish this the mind must be quieted and stilled to some degree and the most effective technique is Christian Meditation of various methods…John Main has written an excellent book on this early christian practice,i highly recommend it….
[…] am joining up with the Faith Barista today …so click over there to be encouraged in how others are letting go of worry! Share […]