Are you a worrier? Do you have a worrier in your life? I have a few. 😉 It’s easy to get caught up in the anxiety of our troubles, isn’t it? What if this happens? What if that happens? What will we do? How will we get through it?
Giving Up Control
Here’s the thing, though. How often are the things we worry about within our control? Not all that often. So, where does the worry get us? No where.
Of course, understanding this and actually letting go are two different things. Intellectually, we get that we shouldn’t worry about something that’s out of our control. Emotionally, how do we let go of something that makes us anxious, nervous, worried?
We turn it over to God.
The Weight is Lifted
I don’t know about you, but for me, it sometimes takes awhile to understand why I’m so stressed out. Why I feel like there’s a weight on my shoulders that won’t leave. And then I clue in: Aha. It’s not up to me. Why am I worrying about it?
Pray
And that’s when I pray. I simply ask God to take this burden. I give it to him. And I visualize it, too. I ‘see’ myself handing over that worrisome bundle of angst to God. I place it at his feet and ask him to deal with it.
You know what happens? What happens each and every time I’ve ever done this? The weight disappears. Almost instantly. It’s gone. He has it now; not me. And every time I’m amazed. Every single time.
Why is that? You’d think after all these years, I’d clue in. But, no. It takes me awhile. Does that mean the anxiety and worry never threaten to resurface? Absolutely not. Does it mean that the situation causing all the worry immediately vanishes? Unfortunately, no. But it does mean that someone else is trying to work it out for me. I’m not on my own, anymore.
Of course, I never really was.
What worries are you holding on to today? Isn’t it time to let them go? Turn them over to God. See what happens, you just might be surprised.
Today’s Reflection
One-year reading track: For those of you joining me on the one-year track reading, today’s post is a bit different. I skipped ahead a bit and read a few at a time. Here they are: Genesis 42-43; 44-46; 47-50
Focused reading: Today’s post was inspired by the story of Joseph and his brothers when they reconnect. Check out: Genesis 50:15-21
Help others find this post:
I’ll have to try that visualization next time I’m worrying… thanks, Laura! ♥
Oh, and thanks for the SWEET comment today! ♥ ♥ ♥
=) Thanks Michelle, and you’re welcome!
I love this idea of visualizing giving your worry to God. I’ve been stressed and worried about a lot of things lately and I’ve been trying to remember to let it go. That’s the phrase of the week for me and another good friend currently going through a tough time. Let it go. Easier said than done, right? I’ve made a commitment to try to let more things go to God and to remember that I am not in control. Remind me of that every once in a while, will ya? 🙂
Erin, I hear ya. It is definitely easier said than done. And it amazes me that it takes me as long to realize why things aren’t getting better each and every time. (You’d think I’d clue in, huh?) And then I remember and pass it over to God, and ta-dah. Even if the problem isn’t “fixed” I feel better about it. The visualization thing is something that helps me make it more real, I think. It works. That’s all I know. Glad you like it; hope it helps and hang in there!