Walking Without Worry

I confess. I am a recovering worry-holic. I grew up a worrier, trained by one of the world's best mentors in that arena - my mom - who taught me that there is always something worthy of worry.

At age sixteen, and as a new driver, there were no cell phones. Mom had me so well trained that if I didn't remember to call when I arrived at my destination, I would worry that she would worry. And it didn't stop there.

I worried about my friends, teachers, siblings, and especially about my pets. Worry increased daily to things like college, my future husband, and my finances. You name the topic, and I could worry enough for all of us.

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not mom-bashing here, nor am I hinting that there is no cause for concern for the ones we love. However, Jesus taught that we should not worry about our lives (Matthew 6:25). In his letter to the Philippians, Paul commands us not to be anxious but to trust God and receive His peace. Anxiety, or worry, is a tool of the enemy to rob us of the peace we have in Christ.

Since I was not a follower of Christ while perfecting my worrying skills, I had no idea there was another option. I praise the Lord that once I began to follow Him, He started to teach me otherwise. Philippians 4:6-7 was one of the first passages of Scripture that I memorized:

The Truth About Overcoming

Little by little, with God's help and by using this verse to push away the worry, I overcame the practice.

Well, at least I thought I did. 😏

When I thought I had "arrived" and literally told someone that I "just don't worry anymore," guess what hit me? Yep. Worry. 

I don't struggle to the same extent by any means, but there are times in my prayer life when the Spirit cries to my heart, "This is called worry!" Together my savior and I walk a familiar path. I cast my cares upon Him only to take them back again. I sometimes wonder if He will ever tire of playing this game.

It brings me to my knees when I realize that His mercies are new every morning. This promise, penned by Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:22-23, is as true for you and me today as it was for those in Bible times.  The Lord does not tire of our shortcomings and reaches to help us as often as we will call to Him. His faithfulness is great. Each step we take in His direction, each time we lay our concerns at His feet, deepens our trust in His loving kindness. Gradually, as we walk toward our Savior, we worry less and receive the filling of His peace. 

Embracing God's Peace

I have learned to recognize the worry that can sometimes plague my own life as what it is: sin. The late, anointed minister, Oswald Chambers goes as far as suggesting that we slander the Lord when we dare to worry.1 He said, "Worry means that we do not think God can look over the practical details of our lives. I will not trust what I cannot see. That is where the infidelity happens. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit."2

Peace is the opposite of worry. When I identify that worry over a particular matter is setting in, I ask the Lord to fill me with His peace. True peace is not something we can make ourselves feel. Peace belongs to the Lord and is His to give. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit and comes when we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit. We lose our ability to walk with the Spirit when weighed down with worry. 

When we truly surrender our lives to Christ and trust that He has our best interests at heart, we are flooded with peace, come what may. Peace like a river washes over us when we take our eyes off our own interests, our own wishes, and the way we think our lives should be, and surrender to the will of the Father. Isaiah 26:3 confirms this reminding us that God keeps us in perfect peace when we fix our minds on Him.

To walk without worry, we must keep our minds steadfast on the goodness and faithfulness of Christ. He keeps us in His perfect peace.

Your Turn:

Do you have tips to add? Leave a comment below!

Do you tend to worry?

In what ways have you learned to focus on God and stop your tendency to worry?

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Be Strengthened Today, by His Word - Psalm 119:28

This post is an excerpt from Finding Joy in the Journey: Savoring the Fruit of the Spirit.
1 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, Inc.), 4/20.
2 Chambers, 5/23.

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Finding Joy in the Journey: Savoring the Fruit of the Spirit. God’s Word makes it clear that He provides the gift of joy to each of His children. Struggles that are common to many women - such as fear, worry, shame, trials, and confusion - cannot steal our foundational, divinely given joy.
Click here to purchase the book.