This week has been an anxious one. Is it okay to be honest with you about that?
I know there are 100 different things I can do to deal with that anxiety, but one reigns above all others.
1 Peter 5:7 says that I can give all my worries and cares to God.
Why?
One reason only: because He cares for me and you.
So, if you are in that same place, let’s do it together.
Let’s hold up our anxious thoughts, our burdens, and GIVE them to Him.
Close your eyes. He knows what you need before you even ask (Matthew 6:8). Offer them up.
Yes, you’ll do what you can do, but beyond that — that place where worry and anxiety take place — we exchange it for trust that God knows the plan He has for our lives. That He’s Sovereign. That if He promises to take that burden, that it lightens as it shifts from our shoulders to His. We’ll follow His lead. We’ll listen for His gentle admonition or encouragement.
But the burden isn’t ours to carry one more moment.
What have you been carrying? How can I pray with you today?
Suzie
I have had two surgeries for Trigeminal Neuralgia, an excruciating painful disease. It has returned, I am
asking God for a miraculous complete healing. He had miraculously healed me twice, and my son once.
I know he is our Healer. ” For by his stripes, we are healed.” and “by his stripes we have been healed.”
Thanks for praying and believing with me. I praise the Lord for what he has done in your life. He is an
awesome and compassionate God, a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
God bless you,
Alice
Lord, I pray for Alice. You have shown Yourself to be Sovereign twice. Thank you for one more time. Thank you for walking through this with her, for giving her all that she needs. In Jesus name, I thank you.
Suzie,
Thank you for sharing with us! You inspire me!
I struggle with anxiety and take medication for it at this time. I am also
Going thru menopause and empty nest syndrome . I know that God has great plans for
Me and my family I’m just afraid of what my roll is now and where I fit at this new stage in life.
I’ve never had a lot of confidence so I really struggle with change. Thank you for praying for me.
I am going through the very same thing, I could not have written it any other way, .Please Pray for me, I need to have more trust… I hope you feel better …
I’m going through the same thing. Crying a lot today. I really don’t know who I am or what my purpose is now. For 22 years, it was trying to be a good mom.
Empty nests are a challenging time emotionally, but it’s also an exciting time. Your fledgling “chicks” are flying out of the nest to discover what God has for them. You are still mom, but that role is changing. One day you’ll be a mother-in-law (I love it!) and one day a grandma. But in the midst of that you are still you. What dreams did you have before motherhood, what talents? What do you bring to others in your church or community? Start there. Feed that. Nurture it. Watch those small flames light up and rediscover more about you. That way you are growing just as your children are. It’s not a sad time, it’s a new season.
The anniversary of my father in law’s death is tomorrow. My husband and I moved here a year ago in July. We gave up a 2300 square foot home on a twenty acre flower farm that my son owned. Recently we were able to take a week away in our fifth wheel. Life felt more normal. We do live and have a nice bedroom, with our own refrigerator and microwave, bathroom, but I am feeling closed in. I think I am realizing this is my life and I am trying to wrap my mind around this choice. Please pray that I will walk in the freedom of forgiveness as there have been a few bumps in the road. I need to stay in the word and not spew garbage at my husband because of times of frustration. Additionally, I have back pain and my pain is my constant companion. Thanks for asking and listening. Blessings..
I live out of state from my family. I’ve been visiting for 2 weeks. Tonight I attended my granddaughters jr high graduation. I was appalled at some parents drinking beer, smoking pot. Hats remained on during pledge of alliegence, elderly women in tank tops to display their body art. Granddaughter lives with her mom (wearing tight green tank top with bright pink bra straps on display) I am sick inside about her future. She is coming home with me for 2 weeks. She was raised in church with the other grandma until she was 5 when mom remarried and moved to the place they live now. I need to be a good example to the other side of life and patience when we discuss delicate sensitive issues….
Aliceyn, just show her Jesus. Rather than showing her what not to wear, show her a heart to love Christ and to be known by Him. God can take that and clean up any outside stuff, but it’s the heart that is the most important.
My unemployment runs out in 3 weeks and I’m the sole support of 3 precious girls….I know God has the right job for me…pray that I will stay positive and in faith!
Lord, lead Janet to a job that will feed her family and keep a home for them. Thank you for provision. In Jesus’ name.
Thank you for the wonderful work you do you are a real inspiration. It seems you always have the right words for me to start my day.
I am asking God for patience as my husband looks for work. I know he has a wonderful plan for us but sometimes it’s hard to wait for it to unfold. I also need to trust my husband again as he strayed recently while I was battling cancer. God has healed me and I have every faith that he will continue this work in our marriage. My husband says he wants nothing more than to be with me but sometimes I find myself worrying about what might be. Thank you for your prayers.
Oh, Nancy. I’m a cancer survivor too. 22 years this year. I was 31 and it was extensive and my prognosis wasn’t good. But I have had the opportunity to watch God take front stage in my life as I trusted him through that very difficult time. Life will always be valuable to me!
I pray that God leads your husband to purpose, to direction, to intimacy with God in such a new and fresh way that He cannot help but rediscover the joy of knowing him, and loving and serving his family and others out of that renewed joy. I hear your heart of faith and it is BIG! May God richly bless and protect and love you today and every day thereafter.
I have been in bed for over a week now with severe pain in my right ear – my lymph nodes all over my head and jaws and neck are swollen and my head feels like it is on fire-the medicine doesn’t seem to be working to relieve any of these symptoms- yesterday they did a CT scan and there is something in the right side of my neck- I see a ENT on Monday- please pray for me and let this dr be able to help me get well
Lord, I pray for Marilyn. By now she has seen a doctor. Give her peace in this. May she sense your presence, and no matter the news, you are bigger. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you for letting me know I am not a failure simply because I have been anxious over “many things”. My sister who is very ill, our finances and the lack of driving miles that make our paycheck, my daughter and a situation with her husband’s visa, my own health. All of these I know are in God’s hands, waiting is hard, I love Philippians 4, but some days no matter how hard I try to apply all this wonderful scripture that is in my head and heart I can’t get my focus OFF the anxiety and on the Problem Solver, My Redeemer, God. When you share your struggles it encourage me and I thank you for that. I pray you will be blessed as you bless us all.
Lord, we are so blessed. Even in the midst of hard times, we can reach and find the blessings that money cannot buy. Thank you for peace in the middle of hard times. That is a blessing. Thank you for love in the midst of difficult family situations. That is a gift. Thank you that you fill us up, surprising us with supernatural peace that passes all understanding, even when things are in chaos. Bring wisdom where it is needed. Provision and healing over this home. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Suzie:
I know this is late, but I would like prayer for more faith and just relinquishing my anxieties to God. I tend to worry so much about things and I know it does me NO GOOD!! I would also like prayer for setting boundaries and assertiveness and sticking to the boundaries and NOT going back on them, unless it is needed. I know once boundaries are set, they that are not set in stone, but for me, this has happened not to long ago, I set a boundary but because I was in need of finances, I undid the boundary and it caused greater harm. So, I just need God wisdom has to how to be a woman of my word and to follow out His plan for my life.
With love God bless,
Iesha
Lord, you promise wisdom. Today I ask for wisdom for Lesha. Give her the strength to make those difficult choices and to run after all that you have for her. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thanks so much for this encouragement! This is such a great reminder to give my burdens over to Him, especially those of fear, anxiety and worry that I’ve been dealing with. I hand over to him how to deal with them, and where to go from here. I hand over the burdens of my medical thyroid and anxiety issues as well as the medication for both and my weight issues. Thanks so much for your prayers, I’ll be praying for you all also!
Suzie:
Worry and anxiety are my first and middle names. I am a single parent. I constantly worry because I never have enough money, enough time, etc. I seem to let everyone down. I am under attack at my job. My job is so stressful that it exacerbates chronic medical conditions that I have developed over the last few years. My three doctors have told me to quit but as I am the only source of income I must first find another job. I worry about everything. Anxiety and worry are so ingrained and imbedded in my psyche that I cannot let my thoughts go. I am even anxious about being worried and anxious.
hello! i too have the same 1st and middle name as you. As a teacher with 2 teenagers going through a divorce several years ago, all I did (and still do sometimes) is worry. One Monday morning, a student walked straight in the classroom door, up to my desk and said, “Ms Gloria, do you know it is a sin to worry?”
I immediately knew God was speaking to me. “Yes, I know” I HAD to admit!
Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
google “worry in the bible” and read ALL the things God promises : )
HE has never let me go.
Hi Stephanie, it’s so very difficult to be a single mom and carry the load. Can I tell you what an amazing woman you are to sacrifice so much for your family. My friend, Jennifer Maggio, is the founder of A Life of a Single Mom. She has a site with so many great resources for encouragement. https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/ – I pray that you’ll check it out. I also have a site for moms on FB — http://www.facebook.com/MomsTogether that offers encouragement.
Father, I pray for Stephanie. You are our Provider, our Healer. May Stephanie sense your provision, just as you clothe the lilies of the field, may you feed and clothe her and her children. May you bring relief for her body, healing her, giving her strength in the name of Jesus. Bring others alongside her to encourage her as she mothers these children. Thank you for loving this beautiful mom, and for all that she does for her children. Thank you for what you provide to your children.
I am the mother of an 18 year old who has Autism. He is at the High Functioning end of the Autism spectrum. He has challenges every day to be himself, the boy / man God made him to be. In return, it makes life difficult for not just him, but for me, dad, brother and sister. J. has such a loving heart. But the Autism gets in his way sometiems. I want to help him learn more about his Heavenly Father, but have a hard time helping him understand that God is the one who he must learn to lean on for his life struggles. I just ask that you lift up my family in your prayers and especially my son, J. That he hands his struggles over to his Heavenly Father who is waiting for them with open hands and an open heart.
Blessings in His Holy Name!!!!
Dana
Father, thank you for J. You know his mind, his thoughts, the way to his heart. Cover this home with your power and love. Give this momma what she needs on a daily basis. Thank you for her hard work, her tenacity, her strength, and her joy. Fill her up all over again, in Jesus’ name.
It has been five months since my husband died, since I’ve been alone in the home we shared for so many years. I am constantly lonely–not for just anyone, not for people in general, but for him and only him. I continually ask God to fill that empty place in my heart and life with Himself; to be the “house band” for me; and I know He can do both things in a far greater and deeper way than my husband ever did or could. By faith, I know that God is doing what I have asked; I know He is caring for my every need. By faith I know; but in the reality of the empty rooms, the silence, the alone-ness, in the ache that never goes away, I still seem to be all alone. I cling to God and claim His promises by faith; what else can I do. When Jesus asked his disciples if they too were going to leave him, impulsive Peter’s answer was, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68) At almost 75 years of age, I feel that I am too old to start over; too old to be alone; too old to face the rest of my life, however short or long it may be, alone. Yet, what choice do I have. Some days, despair overwhelms me. But I can look around for God, and in the Words of Scripture I find Him. “There you are!” has been my heart’s response though not verbalized in that way, and for a while, all seems well with my soul.
I love my husband, too. I can’t imagine how alone and how hard it would be to lose him. So, woman to woman, I reach out with an embrace to say I am so sorry for your loss. I’m so glad for such a great love that must have spanned for a long time. I pray that God wraps you close in His love and strength, and that He will show you, in the proper time, how very valuable you still are to others. Who knows where that will lead? But what I do know is that a seasoned woman of faith who has known such great love, in a man and in a Savior, can offer so much to so many with her wisdom, her tender care, and her love. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into your heart today. It was a “there you are moment” for me.
Suzie,
This blog is older, so you probably won’t see this. Thank you for all of your sharing, wisdom and kindness. I love to read blogs but rarely put myself out there with posts. I feel crushed by burdens right now and not able to cast them. In my head, I know I should. I read and pray. My bible study group prays together. I still wake up at 4 and can’t sleep. I beg God for sleep. I try to fight the spiritual battles and focus and truth, promises and faith, but nothing is improving. My husband is not working, we are struggling with a way-ward teen, trying to get another in college, aging parent etc. Everyone is down and needs a cheerleader and my ability to keep fighting is waning. I feel all alone.
Hi Erin,
You’re not alone! I’m sorry to hear of your challenges. I can relate to a couple of them, and I know its challenging. It’s difficult when we don’t see change or improvement in our circumstances in the time frame hoped for. Keep filling your mind with the word of God and hold on to the truth. God will not leave you nor forsake you! I’m praying for you.