the doubt of worry
I’m a planner. I like to have a plan, know the plan, and stick to the plan. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work like that, in fact, it very rarely does. I have sent myself into a storm of worry and anxiety countless times because I didn't know the plan. It becomes a major stressor in my life not knowing what is going to happen, and not having the answers. You can ask anyone close to me. I am always saying “I just hate not knowing.” Many of these situations were scenarios where I should’ve stopped and had complete faith in God.
So often we are sent into a frenzy of worry when we aren’t sure of the next steps. Instead of focusing on what God can do, we focus on what we can’t do. These are the moments when we need faith even more. It’s easy to have faith when things are going to plan, but it’s harder to have faith when things aren’t going to plan. Faith is believing even when you don’t see. It’s not really faith until your plan actually falls apart, but you still CHOOSE to follow.
Worrying says “God, I don’t trust that it’s in your control.”
Worrying says “God, I don’t believe that you have my best interest in mind.”
Worry says “God, I don’t have faith in your plan.”
Worry is doubting God’s ability to provide for you. Worrying and faith cannot coexist. If we are worrying, there is doubt in our minds that God is providing. Worrying allows enough room for the devil to wedge his way in and separate us even farther from God. Which is going to fuel the fire of worry.
Mark 10:27 says “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Worry attempts to take our problems into our control. That’s the last thing we need to be doing. We should be completely surrendering our worries and anxieties to him.
Society has made having anxiety and worrying seem completely normal. Disclaimer: I’m not minimizing anxiety. It’s real. But I am saying that we shouldn’t be okay with carrying the weight of it. Because we have a father who died on the cross, even though we don’t deserve an ounce of his love, to carry these burdens for us. And continuing to wallow in our worry says “I understand you died on the cross for me, even when I don’t deserve it, but I don’t trust in you to provide for this one problem.”
I’m calling myself out here. In a season of constant transitions, it’s easier to worry than praise God in the unknowns. That’s exactly what he calls us to do though.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
My encouragement to you this week is to cast your anxieties on him. Completely surrender them to him.
Instead, say:
“God, I don’t worry because I DO have faith in your plan.”
“God, I don’t worry because I DO trust that it’s in your control.”
“God, I don’t worry because I DO believe that you have my best interest in mind.”
Choose faith over worry.
