Don't Worry, Let Go, Let God

As human beings, we naturally tend to worry. We lose sleep at night, worries can easily consume our thoughts, and we get stressed over worries. What is worry? It is being concerned about something we have no control over, being in a state of uncertainty. Who really does has control? Who can change situations, who can give us strength, courage, wisdom, answers, and guide us in the right direction? God, our Father. He is the source of life, hope and peace… the peace of mind.

What do we do if our sink is leaking or we have a flat tire? Do we sit, wringing our hands, worrying about it? No, we call someone who can fix it. We take the problem to an expert. We know that worrying about the broken sink or flat tire isn't going to remedy the issue. So why don't we do the same with other things we can't fix or have control over? In these situations, we need to call the one who can fix it, the expert of us, the expert of all things in our life, our Father. He is the only one qualified to help.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34,

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Catch what Jesus teaches here about “worry”. Not only did he tell us that our Heavenly Father will provide for all our needs but he tells us that worrying is not worth the time. He said “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” and “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” He also tells us how to refocus our thoughts of worry, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”.

99% of the time, our worries concern something that exists only within this temporary life. As Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Paul echoes Jesus as he gives the solution to worries in this same scripture: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen”.

In the midst of worry, turn to God. Turn to scripture. Regain perspective. Place your concerns into a proper perspective, the perspective of God on your side and the worries will melt away.

A good scripture to refocus our thoughts is Psalm 23.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

The Lord is our Shepherd who provides for our needs, guides us safely along the right paths, comforts us, anoints us, refreshes us and wraps us in His goodness and love... all the days of our life. He is not only the expert to turn to in times of worry, but he is the expert who also loves us for all eternity.

When the crashing waves of worry are consuming our thoughts, we can quiet our mind with the words which Jesus said to the furious storm, “Peace! Be Still!” (Mark 4:39) In Greek, this phrase means “Be silent! Muzzle it!” As a result of this command by Jesus, the wind died down and it was completely calm. We can do the same with our noisy thoughts and have a calm mind.

It takes repeated practice to not automatically worry. It is a lifetime learning process. That is why we are in this wilderness of life… to practice, to learn, to grow, to become more like Jesus. As we progress in this life and walk through various trials and experiences, we will become better at redirecting our thoughts and we will become stronger.

So the next time worrying thoughts are swirling in your head, go to your loving Father, redirect your thoughts to scripture, and even listen to a song of thankful praise. Then, close your eyes and envision yourself literally placing those worries in God's "inbox" and walking away. Now He has them. They are no longer in your possession. You can now let go, and let God.