Going in Grace

Brandi Stover (00:00.694)

Welcome to Going in Grace, a podcast where we go beyond simply understanding God's word. We explore how to live it out daily, making a meaningful impact in our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's tune in to this week's episode.

Let's dive into a topic that affects us all, worry. God doesn't want us to be consumed by worry and we should explore how we can find peace in His promises. We've all been there before. We've received some bad news, made a poor decision, or heard about a negative situation that is potentially coming our way. Our mind begins to race and create various scenarios of what could happen and what we need to do in response. There's just one problem. Rarely do things work out exactly the way we envision it. And we often invite stress, anxiety, and even illness into our lives when we allow ourselves to worry.

Unchecked worry can take hold of our hearts and our minds. Worry is related to fear and anxiety. All three of these emotions have a way of growing and expanding quickly, drowning out our hope. God doesn't want us to live in a state of worry. And he even commands us not to worry, knowing how toxic it can be to our mental and physical wellbeing. In Matthew, Jesus tells us not to worry about everyday life. That means don't worry when things appear to be going off the rails at work. Don't worry when our children are not making the choices we've taught them to make. Don't worry when our bank accounts are not plentiful. Don't worry when all seems lost because with Jesus, everything can be found and can be restored again.

Matthew 6.25, New Living Translation says,

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That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear, isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing? I love this verse because it puts things in proper perspective. God reminds us that while we are fretting over something like what to eat or wear, He made sure we stayed alive through the night, and woke up in a functioning body created in his image. What are clothes in comparison to our bodies? If he did that, doesn't he have what it takes to make sure we eat and have something to put on? Verses 26 and 27 say, look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns for your heavenly father feeds them.

And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? God is reminding us to look to creation and all the animals who don't have jobs or paychecks coming in, yet they are provided for because God cares about them. Are we as those created in His very own image not more valuable than they? Of course we are, we are the pinnacle of God's creation. We should rest in that knowledge and remember that worrying adds nothing to our life but stress. It doesn't make solutions arrive quicker. It doesn't make people smarter and it doesn't make us get our way. If it produces nothing but negativity and darkness, we must resist worry like the poison that it is.

Matthew 6 verses 31 to 34 says, so don't worry about these things saying, what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live

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righteously and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. It's important that we learn to focus on the present, not reminisce about the past or worry about the future. Focus on what is happening now, with a heart to hear God and rehearse his promises. There is nothing that we face that God hasn't provided for. In the beginning, God created Adam after he created everything he needed for an abundant life. Go to Genesis 1 and 2. It's the same with us. Whatever we need has already been supplied. Note Ephesians 1:3 for more encouragement. Now, we need to tap into God's provision. Nothing catches God by surprise. And instead of worrying, we should focus on his plans and allow him to take care of the needs in our life. You may be saying, this is all well and good, Brandy, but what am I supposed to do when I am overwhelmed and my mind won't stop running?

There is no one size fits all solution, but I and others have found the following to be helpful when worrying is trying to put us in a chokehold. I have these numbered only to make it easy for you to reference. They are not prioritized and there is no hierarchy to these solutions. First, make up in your mind that you are not going to worry. The first part of preparing to fight is making up your mind that you will win. As long as you consider worrying an option, you will not fight worry aggressively. Second, speak God's word and redirect your thoughts to God's promises instead of your present worry. Find scriptures that relate to your area of concern and speak the word out loud so that you hear it,

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and see it. For example, if you are challenged in your health, find scriptures on healing. Often when I am really challenged in my mind and emotions, I speak God's word at intervals throughout the day as an act of resistance to worry. The same way you take medicine at specific times of the day, we can do the same with God's word. His word brings health to all our flesh. So by doing this, we're allowing God's word to comfort us and to drown out our worries. Third, talk to God and find comfort in knowing that he is in control and on your side. Philippians 4:6 through 7 in the New International Version says, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. See that? We can bring our worries to God in prayer, and He will help us, exchanging our worry for His peace. I find that praying specific prayers helps me tremendously. I'll give you an example.

Let's say that I'm having a challenge with Sister So-and-so at my church. If I pray something like, Father, help me with my relationship with Sister So-and-so, that does not get the job done. I need prayers like, Father, Sister So-and-so and I are having communication issues. I leave her presence frustrated, upset, and feeling like I have not been heard. I don't think I'm meeting her needs either. I have done what I know to do to address this. And I am asking you to help us both in this situation and teach us how to communicate with one another in a way that leaves us encouraged and not depleted. We have our next meeting tomorrow and I am asking you to make the crooked places straight. Think through our minds, speak through our lips and help us

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to work together in a way that glorifies you and is a blessing to both of us. See how the second prayer gets to the root of the issue? I told God what I'm really feeling, what's really going on. And I'm not just being cute and acting like everything's okay. It is specific enough that when worry over this meeting with Sister So-and-so tries to stir up, I can confidently say aloud, I will not worry. I've talked to God about this and he's got me. Brain and emotions, you chill, we're trusting God.

Isaiah 41:10, New King James Version says, fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Never forget that God is here to help you. He's got your back. So work together with God as a team to break worry at its root. Finally, don't forget to lean on your faith community. I've got a special note here for you about this. When I say faith community, I mean people who have the knowledge of God and the Word of God in their hearts to fight with you, not commiserate or jump into the pit of worry alongside you. Everyone can’t handle everything. Know your community and only reach out to the trusted individual or individuals that God directs you to. Share your worries with that person or group so that they can pray with you and offer support. Galatians 6:2 encourages us to "carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Let's remember that worry doesn't have to dominate our lives. God invites us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). When we set our mind on winning the battle in our mind, speak His word, pray to him and lean on our faith community, we can experience the peace that transcends all understanding. Thank you for joining me this week. If you found this helpful, please share it with others who might need a reminder of God’s love and care. Until next time, may you rest in God’s peace and keep your heart free from worry.