ANXIETY THE MONSTER
Trusting in God to Work it All Out
My husband and I had a conversation recently about me dipping my toes back into working this fall. Let me also add that I spent most of the day worrying and stressing over this whole situation. There are so many unknowns, but mostly I’m worrying about after school care for my child. Who would pick up our child from school at the end of the school day? Why can we not find any after school care? What are we going to do? How did I not prepare better for this?
My husband responded in his familiar response, “Everything is going to work out. It always does and it will again.”
I fired back with, “Who do you think is going to work it all out?” Spoiler alert, the answer was going to be “me”
The Holy Spirit quickly convicted me as those words came out of my mouth. The nudge of the Holy Spirit in my heavy heart prompted me to think about the weight of what I just said and the weight of the answer I may reply with, if given the chance. If I truly believe that I am the one to work it all out, who am I placing my faith in? I would be choosing to trust my own abilities over the willful Power of God. What did all the worry and stress do for me? Did I accomplish anything by worrying?
In Luke 12:25-26, Jesus asks His disciples, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”
Honestly, all my worries steal multiple moments from my life in my attempt to “work it all out”. When I worry, I feel like I am doing something productive in a situation that I feel little to no control over. I cannot control that the school doesn’t offer after school care or that there is no transportation available to an after school program. But, you know what I can do? I can completely stress myself out and pour out my stress onto anyone who interacts with me, but, as I look back at verse 26, what is the use of worrying?
I am sure many of us have heard of the teaching in Luke 12 where Jesus talks about how we are far more valuable than the birds of the air who never have to worry about where their food comes from:
Even when we do not see Him working,
He is indeed working
“Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!” Luke 12:24 NLT
And, how beautifully clothed are the flowers who do not work or make their clothing:
“And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Luke 12:28 NLT
If God cares so deeply for the birds and the flowers, how much more does He care for us – His children, created by His hands in His image.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
A pastor I listened to recently said, “If we can trust God with our salvation, why is it that we cannot trust Him in our situations?’ This quickly convicted me. If I can trust God with my salvation – that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins so that I may live in eternity with Him – why can I not trust Him to work out the situations that I face? Friend, if God is faithful to care for us in the big things, He is faithful to care for us in the smallest of details. Even when we do not see Him working, He is indeed working. Our cares are not too small or insignificant to Him. This proves even more our desperate need for a Savior. That we desperately need Him to intervene in our sin and remind us that we are not in control, but He is.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” Luke 12:31 NLT
Friend, are you seeking the Kingdom of God above all else? I am trying to. I really am. My viewpoint can quickly focus into a tunnel vision of worry and stress as I try to take back some tiny morsel of control. If we will seek Him, He will give us everything we need. That is such a relief and also such a hard reality. When I stop and seek Him, I feel like I am doing nothing. But we are not “doing nothing.” We are actively searching for the Lord’s presence in our pressing moment and trusting that He will work all things out for our good. God wants us to rest in that promise.
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP
Let’s Reflect:
1. Will my worries for today add a single hour to my life?
2. How can I seek the Kingdom of God in my situation today?
3. How has God worked it all out in my life in the past?
until next time, Laura
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Laura Spurlin is a nurse who boxed up her scrubs to be a stay-at-home-mama to her two kiddos. In this season of motherhood, her anxiety hit a soaring peak and her depression hit a deep low. With this battle came a stronger, deeper, and more surrendering (on her end) relationship with Christ, and a love for writing what He places on her heart about mothering, marriage, and mental health.
Find her here on instagram