Skip to main content

No Need to Fret

Sometimes I fret over things that aren't in my control. Sometimes they are little things like, what if the snow last week kills off the daffodils that just began peeking out of the soil? That is a little thing but I remember the ridiculous blister I got on my hand planting those bulbs last fall. I want to see the fruits of my hard labor. So, I had a mini anxiety attack when the snow practically covered them last week. Not much I could do so why fret? And seriously? Am I really going to spend that much energy on something that has absolutely no eternal value? 

Then there are bigger things I can fret over. Bigger things that can allow fret to grow into worry. Just watching the news and anxiety can kick in. Or I hear a siren in the distance when I know Jim is on his way home from work. Anxiety develops into worry.

There have been so many times in my life that I lied awake at night freaking out over what might happen if a certain circumstance didn't go my way. The anxiety was great and extremely heavy.  It consumed me and kept me from not only getting a good nights sleep but caused me to doubt. Doubt God and His faithfulness. 

Anxiety and worry keep me focused on myself and my circumstances instead of focusing on God and His goodness. When I worry about my comfort here on earth it can grip me in such a way that I either start running on my own agenda and strength or I become paralyzed and choose to wallow in my self pity. 

Neither are good for me.  Neither is good for my relationship with God and my relationship with others. I choose to live my life based on what God tells me in the bible. I can trust Him at His Word and He tells me many times, not to be anxious, not to worry or not to be afraid. That He watches over His children. 

Anxiety starts as a thought that develops into a fear of what might happen. Probably won't happen! I can think of all kinds of scenarios that could happen if that siren is for Jim. Probably won't happen! I don't want to be morbid but some pretty gross thoughts get into my head. And anxiety plants a seed of doubt. Doubt that God isn't awake. Maybe He missed His shift today when He was suppose to be watching over Jim. False! 


God is in complete control, He is fully awake and on guard. Even if that siren is for Jim, even if worse case scenario plays out. God will still be there. I know and trust that to be true. Although it isn't always easy to refocus my thought life. However, when I do- every single time- the heaviness is lifted and  I find His peace. When I shift my thought pattern back to Him the One true God who knows all and sees all, I rest knowing that He cares for me. 

-Pressing On



“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NIV

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV

“He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;”
Psalm 121:3 NIV

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Season of Spring

  The mornings are so beautiful right now that I want to soak them in before the scorching heat is in its full glory. The sun comes up shortly after I do this time of year. My favorite thing to do is grab my bible, journal and a cup of coffee and sit out back with Annie while the sun rises. The birds are literally singing, the quail make more of a squawk like sound than a song but I love it.   Occasionally, I will hear an owl on a neighboring rooftop or the party of a pack of coyotes in the distance celebrating their recent conquest. I’m always surprised that these sounds don’t faze Annie one bit. Make no mistake, if the trash truck or other large vehicle drives past our dividing wall she goes absolutely K-9, as if she’s military, saving us from being attacked. Bless her heart.   Spring typically comes early in Phoenix and is somewhat short lived. I often think we go from Winter to Summer with seemingly little time to wear any of the light weight sweaters I have hangi...
2 comments
Read more

Thank God For That

I saw this inspirational sign at the gym: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” The message of course, is meant to encourage us in the physical form. To challenge and push ourselves in order to get stronger, leaner etc..  I guess this is the new and improved version of “No Pain, No Gain.” I had misread what time the class started that day and while I thought I was 20 minutes early to grab a spot and the necessary equipment; I was only 5 minutes early. Therefore, I was late and all of the medium size dumbbells were taken. That left me with heavier than normal weights to “challenge” myself. Super! This was going to be painful!  I typically thrive on change. I move to a new city and jump right in. I love having a different view on the seat of the plane. I remember taking a train ride up the coast with my sister once. On one side of the train was beautiful countryside while on the other was the ocean view. I wanted to see it all so I switched sides on the re...
Post a Comment
Read more

RBJ and a Barf Bag

  It’s been thirty years since I got breast implants. Having birthed and nursed two babies my boobs were left looking like tube socks sporting tennis balls in each one dangling from my chest. At twenty-eight years old, living in the world that put so much importance on outward appearance, I thought that I needed enhancement to feel better about myself. Looking back, maybe it did serve its purpose for a while. But, I was never truly comfortable with them. They were larger than I wanted and I’m fairly modest so I don’t like the attention I thought they brought in my younger years. Shopping for clothes, especially swimsuits has always been a challenge for me. All those cute summer dresses made me look pregnant and bras were very uncomfortable. I’m not anti-plastic surgery, implants or whatever. I’m just older and in a different stage in life and view things from a more Godly perspective now that I seek His ways for my life. I’ve known for several years that the implants in my body nee...
5 comments
Read more