I am concerned about us. All of us. We are in a bit of a tizzy I think. We’re working from home trying to take care of our kids. We are sitting around anticipating what fall will look with our kids back to school or not back to school. We are concerned about our economy, wondering if we will lose our jobs, or maybe we already have. We are struggling to even get through the day because we can’t stop worrying about tomorrow. Here is what I have come to realize.
We are giving too much power to fear and worry and we need to stop.
Guess what? There is just simply so much out of our control. We cannot waste our time with fear and worry.
The other night before bed, our 9-year old told me all the things she was afraid of so we talked a bit about that, why we don’t have to be afraid of anything that happens because we have Jesus and eternity and that no matter what the outcome of all this is, we have HOPE!
Here are four things I’m going to do to stop letting fear and worry have so much power in my life and instead replace it with FAITH & HOPE!
When I find myself getting in a tizzy, I’m going to stop and lay it at the foot of the cross. What does that look like? Praying. Maybe saying out loud, “God, I give this back to you.” It’s okay if you have to keep doing this. “Here I go again, Lord. I give this back to you. Help me not pick it back up.”
I’m going to spend some time organizing my day and making sure I get in a more consistent quiet time, away from social media, in the Bible and not letting myself stay in consume mode. Does that happen to you where you are just stuck consuming all the media on your phone or social media or wherever and it just takes over your mind? Fill your mind with Jesus instead! It will calm you instead of winding you up.
Get outside more. Every time I get outside and go for a walk my perspective changes. Breathe in the fresh air and remember that all hope is not lost.
Worship more. Worship music fills my soul and releases my angst every single time. I happen to know a couple great radio stations you can check out to infuse yourself with the hope of God’s word – try SPIRIT 105.3 or PRAISE 106.5.
I don’t know when, but I do know we will get through this. It might not be full of super fun moments, okay? It might be stressful sometimes. But never once in the Bible does God tell us that worry and fear will help us.
Here are 31 verses that you can write down, put on your mirror, post around your desk, or write with chalk on the sidewalk. Meditate on them. Fill your mind with them. Make the point today to take back your mind and kick fear and worry to the curb. I like to organize and control things and I don’t love when my plans have to change, but let’s walk forward in the hope that God gives us, the freedom from anxiety and fear he wants us to have.
Can I pray for us?
Heavenly father, we don’t know what the future holds and we don’t like that one bit. We want to be able to plan, and organize our days. We understand that you are teaching us something. We know you are trying to get our attention. Lord, we lay our fear and worry at the foot of the cross knowing that you aren’t surprised by any of this. Lord, we have your hope. Would you please help us release our fear and worry today and stop picking it back up? Lord, in your name we ask all these things. Amen.
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
- “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
- “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
- “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19
- “But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
- “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25
- “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
- “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
- “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
- “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
- “Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue…” Isaiah 35:4
- “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Luke 12:22-26
- “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
- “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22
- “Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” Mark 6:50
- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
- “’For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:13-14
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
- “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.” Psalm 118:6-7
- “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25
- “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:39-40
- “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:7
- “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.” 1 Peter 3:14
- “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
- “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” Deuteronomy 3:22
- “Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’” Revelation 1:17
- “Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” Mark 5:36
- “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38-39
- “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17
- “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”…He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you…For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways…“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him…” from Psalm 91:1-16
