God Rocks #17: Overcoming Worry

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

I was a worrier when I was young. I came from a long line of worriers.

Not that there weren’t things to worry about. Like everyone we went through our share of struggles.

Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn

I almost died when I was seven. My dad’s business went through a severe downturn when I was eight.

But we could also take worrying to a new height. We perfected it.

In college I worried about getting through tests. I worried about graduating. Then I worried about what I’d do after I graduated.

If that wasn’t enough at times when everything was going well and life was firing on all cylinders I’d worry about when everything would unravel.

And frankly though it seems almost humorous now it was devastating to live.

And I’m not alone. Worry and the accompanying stress are one of the biggest health issues people face. Worry is tough to solve and destructive in it’s results.

So for me the change was profound when I entered into my relationship with God. When I simply trusted in him for my life and for his blessings the worry began to abate.

I read the promise of Jesus about overcoming worry and it became one of my life verses.

He said, “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? 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?” (Matthew 6: 25-27 NLT)

When we see how God loving takes care of even the birds and we realize we are his adopted child why would we worry?

And frankly I began to stop worrying.

Now, I won’t say that I never worried again or that I don’t catch myself starting to worry even now. But instead of my default setting being worry it became confidence.

Sometimes when I would begin to worry I would look at some birds fluttering around and remember this promise. And then the peace would return.

Even today when worry starts to creep in I sense it and deflect it in God’s power. And what a relief.

We can worry or we can relax. It’s our choice.

How have you overcome worry?