I want to help you break the grip of worrying with another idea that worked for me. If you didn’t see the first post in the series, you can read it here. My worrying habit received a huge blow when I started to unequivocally understand that God does provide. All the time. With that realization, I began to experience more peace. A peace that replaces worrying – it can be yours too.
God’s Provision and Protection Leads to Peace
Here is a verse that describes God’s provision and protection well:
11 For the Lord God is brighter than
the brilliance of a sunrise!
Wrapping himself around me like a shield,
he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory.
Those who walk along his paths with integrity
will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!
Psalm 84:11 The Passion Translation (TPT)
This verse is encouraging. But what did I do with the knowledge? How did I weave the truth of God’s provision and protection into my being?
I examined my family’s lives. “Wrapping himself around me like a shield” brings a picture of God’s protection to my mind. I recalled the instances where God’s protected my mother-in-law during health crises. I remembered His protection during driving in icy conditions, to name just a few.
I saw God’s provision in the details of our challenging interstate move. I remembered the answer to our prayers for a financial situation. The list quickly expanded. I became alert to areas where I had overlooked or forgotten God’s provision. Now, I endeavor to be more aware of His protection and provision as I go through each day.
God’s Peace Breaks the Vortex of Worrying
The more I understand the truth that God has always protected and provided for us, the more peace I experience. I have broken free of the vortex of worrying. It had been replaced by a cascading peace.
Was it possible that the first real peace I described was because our lives were stress-free at the time? No! My husband and I had busy jobs, our children were involved in activities and we had one family member with serious health issues.
And yet I had peace. A peace that replaced worrying.
Even now, at times I forget the reason for my peace and slip back into the habit of worrying. Thankfully, I have learned to quickly re-direct my thoughts. The place these thoughts land is with God
As I reflect on His generosity, his gifts; physical gifts of protection and provision as well as the gifts of grace and glory mentioned in our verse, I receive more peace.
I luxuriate in the feeling of peace. Inside I feel calm. My neck once stiff with stress is now moves freely. I sleep deeply and wake rested.
With the background refrain of worry removed, I can focus and be fully present with whatever I am engaged in.
You can experience this peace too.
Breaking habits can be difficult. But, once you experience a peace that replaces worrying you will not want to return to your former ways.
Are you ready to start?
Photo by Kate Tandy on Unsplash
Now that’s my picture of peace, girlfriend! The ocean’s stillness or its forceful waves meeting the shoreline ~ both a reminder for me of His power and His peace filling my body. There are times I worry so hard, especially for my children. It’s difficult to watch them go through things that are painful but that just may be the way He draws them closer, I think, and grows them to lean on Him. Yup, my kids know that I’m a worry wart. My mom was too, so I saw that as the way to deal when growing up….UNTIL I felt His presence and learned to turn my worries over to Him…Ha, sometimes I turn the worry over and then take it back! But He’s always there to remind me that He loves hearing my prayers, yet He’s the one in control and I can be thankful for that. 🙂 . Love the TPT translation. Thank you for today’s reminder that I don’t have to worry!
I agree, worrying, especially about our kids, is a hard habit to break! Being aware of His presence really does change everything!