“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Mothers are especially good at being anxious. Before we had children, we were mostly worried about our jobs, our finances, our marriages, our health, and maybe our looks. We kept a wary eye on politics and social issues.
But then we had children. And suddenly our worry gene mutated and anxiety became the bitter pill we swallowed with every meal, morning, noon, and night. Now we had someone even more vulnerable than ourselves to look out for and we wondered about everything, from what they ate, to when they would walk, to how they did in school. On and on it could go.
The world we live in is an unpredictable and broken place. We cannot control it, no matter how much we may want to, and no matter how much we worry about it. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t care. Caring is the natural response to difficult and painful situations, for ourselves and others. But worry and anxiety are an attempt to control those situations, if only in the safety of our own minds.
But anxiety only breeds more anxiety. It consumes like a cancer and leaves no room for more healthy emotions, like trust, faith, and love.
God wants us to give those anxious thoughts to Him and trust that He will take care of us. We have to have faith that His unfailing love will be the bridge that carries us over the uncertainty, change, and pain that occurs in life.
Letting go of our worry makes room for the peace that God has promised us, if only we ask. So as you go into this week, offer up those anxious thoughts that are stealing your joy and calm, and trust in the Lord to guide you and strengthen you, no matter what the challenge may be. Nothing is too much for the God of all.
Have a peaceful and worry-free Monday!
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