Stressed out? Do you feel distracted or even consumed by worries? With financial woes, concerns about jobs, or parenting, we can feel stretched to the breaking point. But what do we do? Read on :). Here are 7 easy steps to getting rid of your worries.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
You may think this seems to be good advice. And it’s awesome that God cares about me. But is it just an empty statement?
I don’t think so. After a lot of trial and error, I have found it to be true. Here’s how I use this truth to stop all that worrying from consuming me and how you can too:
7 Steps to Getting Rid of Your Worries
- Identify your worries and concerns. This sounds obvious, but is it? Sometimes so many thoughts and ideas swirl around our minds that clear thinking eludes us and anxiety slips in.
- Write what you have identified on paper or print it off.
- Pray. Share your worries with God. It doesn’t have to be eloquent. Let Him know what you are worried about and how you feel. He cares about you!
- Visualize yourself passing the worries and cares to God. When I have a lot of them, I picture a tall stack of unruly papers that I stagger under. Sometimes I visualize a box filled to the brim. One thing we know, He wants to take them all.
- Physically get rid of your list. I love to shred mine. Some people like to burn them. You will find the way that works best for you. There is something satisfying about seeing the worries being destroyed!
- When the worries and anxieties return or a new one arrives repeat steps 1-5. Sometimes I do this again and again and well, maybe again. God is not surprised. Our loving Father wants us to come back to Him. I picture Him smiling and graciously taking the worries again. Like many other things in life, the process gets easier and easier with practice.
- Most importantly relax in the peace that you will experience! And exhale. You will feel refreshed.
And here is a bonus. Listening to music is a powerful way for me to really integrate new things. Here is a song by Casting Crowns that I enjoy.
Why don’t you give these ideas a try? I think that you will be surprised at what happens. I would love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below.
Photo credit: Tookapic on Canva
Great reminder for me. I sometimes feel guilty for turning over so many things to Him to handle for me. I think I should be able to deal with this or that on my own. This is a great reminder that He longs for me to hold my hands out to Him for guidance and direction. Thank you!
Yes, I have to remind myself too that He is waiting to take those worries. I slip into an ultra-independent mode so easily!