When Worry Knocks

I’ve had a few moments in the last few months where when I passed by a street or neighbourhood I once lived in, memories of all the prayers I prayed during that time would come flooding back. I could almost see myself walking down the street with unfulfilled hopes and dreams in my heart, wondering when God would break through.

If I could tap myself on the shoulders and let myself know that I was going to be okay, I would. I would tell myself that God brought me through those days, and He keeps His promises. He was faithful to follow through, and He will always be.

It is interesting to think that just moments before, I was wondering and hoping for breakthroughs in totally different areas of life. Though my life has changed so much in the last few years, and God has blessed me more than I could ask, think or imagine, I hate to admit that I still worry.

Worry can take all shapes and forms. Worrying about small things like what to make for dinner or the big things like finances, family, health or work.

I have suffered from worry, fear and anxiety and sometimes still do. I remember the days when I would just lay in bed, paralyzed with fear and anxiety, not able to function. I have read books and devotionals and listened to sermons on how to better handle these emotions but without warning, it comes knocking at my door, and there I am again. It is a cycle I was never really able to stop.

Worrying can take away from our health and relationships and from living the life God intended for us to live. I could be wrong, but I don’t think we can stop worry, fear or anxiety from knocking at our door. It will come when we least expect it. Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this world. (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33)

You will feel fear, you will worry at times about random things and maybe you will feel anxiety at some point in time. But when it does happen, when you see it coming, remember God’s promises for your life. Go to your room, shut the door and pour out your heart to God. Tell him what bothers you. Cry out to him. Stay in His presence and I promise you, His peace will wash over you.

Turn your worries into prayers; God is listening. I know it doesn’t feel like it when you’ve been praying for the same thing for the tenth time or even the hundredth time. But He cares about your life. He cares about your story. God deeply cares about every hope, dream and desire in your heart.

When I hear news that make my mind spin and I don’t know how to react, I ask God for a word or to bring a verse to memory so I can speak that out loud. When we speak God’s word into the atmosphere of worry, fear or anxiety, and as we hear those words, faith begins to grow.

One thing my husband and I started doing earlier on in our marriage was speaking aloud verses to each other when the other was weighed down with worry or fear. We would speak God’s Word and the promises He made to us into the atmosphere – that He is with us, He will never leave us, He is our good Shepherd, He is our peace, our guide, our comfort. Slowly, we would feel relief and peace knowing God is with us.

Don’t forget that not only is our God good but He is big enough to carry your worries and mighty enough to take you through it. I promise you that never once has God’s word failed, He is a God who keeps His word.

Today, if you are worried about your future, your health, your family or your finances, go to God in prayer. Pour out your fears and worries to the One who knows and loves you fully. God hears your prayers and sees your tears. One day, like me, when you look back, you will want to tap yourself on the shoulder and remind yourself how God came through for you.

I have compiled some verses for you to memorize so you can pull them out on days you start to worry. You can copy and paste these to the notes app on your phone or even send it to a friend!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19
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 is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
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
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6

Questions to consider:

Do you worry over small things and big things so much that you can’t function to your fullest potential? Do you feel fear and dread over the days looming ahead of you? Today, try to take some time to sit in God’s presence alone and pour out your worries and fears to him.