Tag Archives: worry

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

The Weight of Worry

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The Worry That Follows Us

Worry is a shadow that seems to follow us everywhere. It shows up when bills are due, when the doctor calls with test results, when our children step into an uncertain world, or when tomorrow feels too heavy to carry.

Jesus knew this about us. That’s why in Matthew 6, He spoke directly to our anxious hearts. He didn’t dismiss our concerns as silly or small—He reminded us that the God who clothes the lilies and feeds the sparrows can be trusted with the details of our lives.

Why We Worry

At its root, worry often grows from two soil conditions: fear of the unknown and desire for control. We worry because we can’t see how tomorrow will unfold. We want certainty, but life rarely offers it.

Even the disciples struggled with this. They worried about storms on the sea, about where they would find food, about who was greatest among them. Worry isn’t a modern problem—it’s a human one.

And yet, Jesus calls us to live differently. Not because the problems disappear, but because we have a Father who knows our needs before we even ask.

Look at the Birds, Look at the Lilies

Jesus points us to creation as a living sermon:

  • Birds of the air — They don’t plant or harvest, yet God feeds them daily.
  • Lilies of the field — They don’t labor or spin, yet they are dressed more beautifully than Solomon in all his splendor.

The message? If God cares for birds and flowers, how much more will He care for His children? Worry shrinks our vision. Faith lifts our eyes to a God who provides.

The Cost of Worry

Worry drains us but never delivers. Jesus asked, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27). The truth is, worry doesn’t add—it subtracts.

  • It steals our sleep.
  • It robs us of joy in the present.
  • It blurs our trust in God’s provision.

Worry doesn’t change tomorrow—it only weakens today.

Seeking First the Kingdom

Jesus doesn’t just tell us what not to do; He gives us something better to focus on:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

The cure for worry isn’t to ignore life’s problems—it’s to shift our priorities. When we put God’s kingdom first, everything else finds its place. Provision, guidance, peace—these flow from the Father who delights in caring for His children.

Encouragement for the Worrier

Friend, Jesus’ words are as true today as when He first spoke them. Worry will always whisper, but faith speaks louder. You don’t have to carry tomorrow’s burdens today. God invites you to trade your worry for His peace.

So when anxiety rises, pause and look outside. See the birds. Notice the flowers. Let creation preach to you: If God cares for them, He cares for me too.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

always be content

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A Content Life

In a 2010 interview, Eunice Sandborn, age 114, said she had a happy life. She didn’t have any complaints. She believed complaining was a choice, and in her 114 years, there were times she had to choose not to complain. Eunice was content as she celebrated her birthday making her the oldest living person in the world.

The Search for Contentment

It seems Eunice had found contentment. We all search for it. Some look for it in a big home, there are those who look for it in how many cars they own, and still others search for contentment in a bank account balance. Being content is a desire we all share, and Scripture encourages us to find our contentment in the Lord.

Hebrews 13 says, “Don’t love money. Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Finding contentment in life has seasons of plenty and seasons of need. The writer of Hebrews reminds us the Lord is with us in both seasons. We may even find the most contentment in the leanest of seasons.

The words of Hebrews 13 point to the complete reliability of God and his promises. God’s people can count on him no matter what comes.

Remember, wherever you are in life today, the Lord is saying to you, “I will never fail you. I will not abandon you.”

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Embracing Today: Let Go of Tomorrow’s Worries

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How full is your calendar today? If you are like me, it is pretty full. Between work, getting the kids to school, and running errands, there is just not a lot of time for anything else. Especially worry about tomorrow. That’s why it is encouraging to find this nugget of wisdom tucked away in Matthew 6.

Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow for today has enough worries of its own” (Matthew 6:34)

As we think of all that is coming and all that may happen tomorrow, it is easy to let worry creep into our lives. However, Jesus encourages us not to worry about those events and days in the future. We are reminded the Lord has our back. He is going to take care of tomorrow. After all, today’s agenda is full; there’s no room for worry about tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Rock-Solid Promise 8: Lord Helps With Tough Decisions

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Hard decisions seem to always present themselves in life. You and I are put in between a rock and a hard spot. No matter what we decide we feel something is lost. The Lord offers this rock-solid promise for these moments.

8. The Lord will help with those tough decisions.

Scripture promises…

  • Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
  • Proverbs 16:9 remarks, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
  • James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

When tough decisions come, remember, the Lord will help you decide. This is a rock-solid promise we can carry through 2024 and beyond.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Rock-Solid Promise 6: The Lord Can Help When We Are Afraid

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You and I don’t have to turn far to find situations that can cause fear in our lives. Headlines are filled with events inducing fear, and our daily lives may have situations causing our hearts to race. When fear shows up, we can remember the 6th rock-solid promise of Scripture.

6. We can take our fears to the Lord.

There are always events happening around us invoking the natural reaction of fear, and when we are feeling afraid, the Lord promises he will help us.

  • “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4).
  • The Lord says in Isaiah 41:10, “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.”

When fearful moments creep into 2024, the Bible suggests we look to our trust in the Lord for strength. If you’re feeling afraid today, look to your trust in the Lord for strength.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Rock-Solid Promise 5: The Lord Ensures Our Needs Are Met

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Perhaps one of the major contributors to our anxiety is concern about having enough. Enough money to pay this month’s rent; enough time to get everything done. Enough resources to meet our needs. Start looking at the bank statement and our schedules, and our anxiety level raises. The Lord has a rock-solid promise for these moments.

5. The Lord will ensure our needs are met.

 “I will ensure your needs are met,” the Lord assures us.

In Matthew 6, Jesus points to the birds, and reminds us they do not worry about having enough food, yet they always have plenty. He points to the flowers and reminds us they do not worry about their appearance, yet they are always beautiful. Verse 33 reminds us as we seek after the Lord, he ensures all of our needs are met as well. The Lord promises we do not have to worry about having enough; he will make sure we do.

So, as you begin to ask, “Will there be enough,” remember, the Lord says he has our back.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Rock-Solid Promise 4: We Can Cast Anxieties on the Lord

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Here is the 4th of 10 rock-solid promises we can carry with us in 2024 and beyond.

4. We can cast our anxieties upon the Lord.

There’s little doubt 2024 will bring its share of anxieties, but the Lord promises we can cast those cares upon him and he will help us find peace.

We are reminded in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Amid the anxious moments of the year, remember this rock-solid promise, and cast your anxieties upon the Lord.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll have promise 5 tomorrow at 6 a.m.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Focusing

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Where’s your focus today?

There are a lot of things that can entangle our minds. The stack of bills on our desk, the never-ending to-do list, and today’s headlines are enough to make us want to hide. Keeping our focus on everything around us creates much stress and anxiety in our lives; however, the Bible suggests we place our focus elsewhere.

Hebrews 12:2 encourages more focus to be placed on our faith and less on the world. “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Focusing on Jesus in today’s world can certainly be challenging, so here are a few tips to help adjust focus today.

  • Start the day by spending time with the Lord. Spend some time reading Scripture and praying. This will help start the day in the right way.
  • Follow the advice of Philippians 4. Think about whatever is pure, admirable, lovely, and excellent. All these adjectives point to Jesus.
  • Try equalizing the time spent on today’s worries with time thinking about the promises of the Lord. Equalize the worry about finances with a reminder of the Lord’s promise to provide.

Remember to focus on the Lord today as so much tries to grab your attention.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

4 Tips for Fighting Worry

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The mail brings an unexpected invoice. Where are we going to find the money to pay it?

My wife is delayed in responding to my text. Did something happen to her?

My boss is acting differently today. Did I do something to upset her?

Worry seems to find its way into our lives, and left uncontrolled, worry can cause significant harm. It can affect our physical health. The APA and Mayo Clinic list digestive issues, trouble sleeping, and migraines as some of worry’s implications. The Association also mentions worry negatively impacts our relationships by creating a number of unnecessary conflicts. This is why it is so important for you and I to handle worry in an appropriate way.

Thankfully, Scripture gives guidance on controlling and combatting worry. The Bible offers several suggestions for handling worry. Here are a few examples:

  1. Pray and seek God’s guidance: Philippians 4:6-7 says, “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.” This verse encourages us to pray to God with a grateful heart, presenting our requests to Him and trusting Him to provide peace in our hearts.
  2. Trust in God’s provision: Matthew 6:25-34 encourages us to trust in God’s provision for our needs. Verse 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This verse reminds us to prioritize our relationship with God and trust Him to take care of our needs.
  3. Cast our anxieties on God: 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This verse reminds us that we can trust God to care for us and to take our worries from us.
  4. Focus on positive and uplifting thoughts: Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This verse encourages us to focus on positive and uplifting thoughts, which can help to alleviate worry.

If you are struggling with worry, there are steps you can take to find relief and peace. The Bible offers powerful guidance and reassurance for those who are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Remember to pray and seek God’s guidance, trust in His provision, cast your anxieties on Him, and focus on positive and uplifting thoughts. By implementing these strategies, you can begin to reduce worry and find comfort in the knowledge that God cares for you. Don’t let worry hold you back – take action today to find the peace and serenity that you deserve.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Don’t Worry, Be Peaceful

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The old saying goes, “We can be our own worst enemy,” and there are times it is completely true. Have you ever allowed thoughts about yourself to rob you of peace?

  • A project didn’t turn out the way you desired, so you criticize every mistake.
  • You were late for work because you were stuck in traffic, so you blame yourself for not having enough time.
  • You compare yourself to the appearance of others, and beat yourself up because you do not have the life you believe they do.

It can be a struggle to not strip ourselves of peace when we’re having a bad day. Scripture gives some advice for these days.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your requests to God. And, the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Cast your anxieties upon the Lord because he cares for you deeply” (1 Peter 5:7).

Take those unpeaceful moments to the Lord. Allow him to carry those burdens and hand you, his peace.

  • You’re probably judging the project more critically than others will.
  • The Lord may have an encouraging message for you during that traffic jam.
  • Social media doesn’t tell the full story, so others may be having the same thoughts when they compare themselves to us.

 Don’t worry. Be peaceful!