“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Worry is repeating a future where God does not show up.
It’s the place where we anticipate that He will fail us. Worry is the continued rehearsing of our problems with an outcome where God FAILS to show up. It’s where we “get in our feelings” and lose sight of the reality of all that He has done for us.
Worry causes us to “zoom in” on what we fear while—simultaneously causing us to zoom out on what God has done AND what He can do.
Imagine a romantic relationship in which every time your partner (who had been completely faithful for your entire relationship) interacted with a member of the opposite sex, you convinced yourself there was more going on. You ruminated on this idea of unfaithfulness. It would be an insult to your partner if you cross-examined them about each interaction, right? Furthermore, you would be wasting energy that could be spent simply enjoying the relationship.
Now imagine God, who is in control of the universe, as He watches His born again children worry about their future—choosing to ignore His past faithfulness, and question His ability to manage things going forward.
Let’s be clear on one thing: our worry is often “control” disguised as “concern.” Psychology sometimes refers to it as coercive control.
In the hospital, “concern” is one of the words we use to respectfully get the attention of other team members and request a reevaluation of a situation. It can be used in a slightly passive aggressive (think, “per our conversation”) manner but ultimately allows any employee to voice concern in a way that politely commands attention. In the hospital, with humans who are capable of error, this is useful.
With God, however, because He is perfect, we can absolutely trust that He’s got this!
As Christians, we must be mindful of our “concern” for the future while balancing our recognition of God’s faithfulness. It is certainly important to be good stewards and plan for the future or worst-case scenarios. But there is a balance to be struck in doing so in light of the faithfulness of God.
From the beginning, God anticipated our inability to trust Him. As far back as the Old Testament, He commanded His people to establish holidays, traditions, and monuments to remind them of His faithfulness. God knows our emotional response (like fear of the future) can cloud our memory of His goodness.
Part of my challenge to myself for this year is to establish more everyday reminders of God’s faithfulness in my life. One way I’m doing this is by writing out answered prayers or blessings and pairing them with a related picture to put on a pin board on my wall.
Remembering the faithfulness of God builds trust and confidence in Him and removes space for our worry and fear.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your unchanging faithfulness throughout my life and across all generations. I confess that too often I allow worry to take root in my heart, rehearsing futures where I imagine You might not show up, forgetting the countless ways You have already come through for me. Forgive me for letting “concern” become a mask for “control,” and for zooming in on my fears while zooming out on Your proven goodness.
Lord, I bring every anxiety, every uncertainty, and every request before You now—not in fear, but in prayer and supplication, with a heart full of thanksgiving for who You are and all You have done. Help me to remember Your past faithfulness, to establish those everyday reminders of Your goodness, and to trust that You are sovereign over every detail of my future.
Guard my heart and my mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, the peace that stands firm even when my circumstances don’t make sense. Anchor me in Christ Jesus, so that worry finds no place in my life. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
My name is Grace and I am a born-again believer, author, singer, and ER nurse. I’m also the mother to a beautiful, medically complex child who teaches me daily about resilience, grace, and the power of God’s love.
My life is committed to sharing God’s Word and walking in obedience to Him. Whether I’m writing, singing, caring for others, or navigating motherhood, I strive to reflect Christ in everything I do. My recent journey has been anything but easy, but through every challenge, God has proven Himself faithful, and it’s a blessing to share that faithfulness with others.
