Leave Your Worries Behind

In today’s society, worry is truly an epidemic. Maybe even worse is that many people don’t really see it as a problem. It’s become normal for us to worry about the future, our children, our jobs, or even world events—it’s kind of a sign that we care. But what so many people don’t know about worry is that it’s a form of fear.

Regardless of the situation—whether it’s something we view as “big” or “small”—God doesn’t want us to worry. He wants us to place our trust in Him.

In fact, not trusting God to take care of the various situations in our lives is the cause of worry. Faith and trust are the exact opposite of worry and fear. Too often we trust our own abilities, believing that we can figure out how to take care of our own problems. However, we eventually learn one way or another that trying to take care of everything ourselves is too big of a task!

Let God Do the Heavy Lifting

I want to share some scriptures that have been life-changing for me. Look at Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMPC):

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

I used to really be a “thinker.” If there was a problem to be solved, I could think about it over and over and try to find a solution until I had myself worried, confused and worn-out. I was leaning on my “own insight and understanding”—I was worrying about my problems instead of trusting God to take care of them.

I can tell you from experience that we won’t have all of the answers to life’s problems. Truthfully, God never meant for us to carry the burden!

My husband, Dave, has been a wonderful influence on me in so many ways. When we first got married, I was emotionally broken and extremely difficult to love. However, Dave displayed God’s love, patience and peace in ways that slowly melted away my hard shell. I saw the love of God through him.

One of the greatest lessons I learned from Dave has to do with this issue of worrying. Now, Dave naturally has a more easygoing personality, but early on in his life he was able to get ahold of a principle that is critical to having peace and enjoying life. What is it? Let me begin by sharing 1 Peter 5:6-7:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully] (AMP)

So, what do we do when we’re worried, frustrated, stressed-out and don’t know what to do? God’s Word tells us: We should “cast our cares” on Him...because He cares for us!

Let me break this down a bit more. In the dictionary, the word cast means “to pitch or to throw.” God wants us to pitch or throw our cares and worries onto Him and allow Him to carry the weight of them.

You should have seen me in the early years of our marriage. I not only worried a lot, but I was good at it. I wasn’t used to living in God’s peace like I do now. For me, “normal” was always being upset or worried. If there wasn’t a problem, I could find a problem.

I can vividly picture myself sitting at my kitchen table, pouring over our bills again and again. Meanwhile, Dave was on the living room floor, playing with the kids and allowing them to put curlers in his hair.

I’d yell, “Dave, how can you be goofing around at a time like this? Why don’t you come and help me with these bills?”

Dave would respond, “Joyce, we’ve been over those bills a thousand times. We’re doing our part—we’re being responsible, we’ve prayed, and we’re being a blessing by giving to others. Now we just need to cast our care and trust God. I refuse to sit there and worry with you.”

Well, I didn’t like that at all—I wanted Dave to worry and agonize with me! However, Dave was doing what the Bible tells us to do. He was casting his care on the Lord and releasing the weight of the burden onto Him.

You see, I always wanted to “know.” If I didn’t, I felt unsettled and upset. However, we don’t always have to know what God is going to do or when He’s going to do it. All we really need to know is that God has a plan and He is in control. We can rest in the truth that at the right time, God will execute His plan.

Our Part & God's Part

Now, this doesn’t mean we don’t take care of our responsibility and do what we can. My husband often says, “Cast your care but not your responsibility.” We each have a part: Our part is to do our best—to do everything we can do. But then God’s part is to make up the difference and do what we can’t do. God can’t do our part, and we can’t do His part!

For instance, in those early years, Dave and I had six straight years when our income was less than our bills. The Lord used this time to help me trust Him. And somehow—as Dave and I trusted the Lord and made a decision to cast our cares onto Him—God came through every single month and our family always had what we needed.

We did our part—we worked hard and then placed our trust in Him. And then God did His part—He showed up in our lives and provided for us in supernatural ways.

As long as we try to do everything ourselves, God will let us. He won't take care of our problems and worries until we choose to give them to Him. Either we're going to do it or God's going to do it—but both of us aren't going to do it!

I’ll never forget a situation years ago. I was “working” on a certain problem, convinced that I could change the circumstances myself. In short, I was trying to do God’s part. Finally, as I was praying one evening, I said in a pitiful, worn-out voice, “God, I can’t do this anymore. I give up.”

Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart with excitement, “Really? Great—now I can go to work!”

I want you to take a moment and think. Is there a situation you are “working on” right now? Is there a person you’re trying to change? Are you anxious about the unknowns of next week or next year? Are you upset and worried about things you can’t do anything about?

If so, take a moment to pray with me:

“Lord, Your Word says You know everything about me and care about every single detail of my life. So, right now, I give You all of my worries, fears and concerns. You see them all, and You know exactly what I’m going through. Please fill me with Your supernatural peace and help me to continually give my worries to You—day by day, even minute by minute. Please help me to do my part, then trust You to take care of the rest. In Jesus name, amen.” (See Psalm 103; Matthew 11:28; Philippians 4:7.)

Instead of making yourself miserable trying to figure everything out on your own, God wants you to place your trust in Him and enter into His rest, totally abandoning yourself to His care.

After all, He knew about your problems before they ever existed, and He already has a plan to help you as you place your trust in Him.