Don't Be A Worry-wart

When I was a very little girl, my grandpa's nickname for me was "Worrywart." I was very inquisitive and asked millions of questions, so I think really the reason he called me Worrywart was because I kept worrying him. However, he did have a worrywart to deal with, and that was my granny.


She worried about all kinds of things and about everybody. She had a large extended family and also knew everyone in her little village and all the surrounding communities; therefore, there was plenty of things to worry about! Now to give her credit, the reason she worried about all these people is that she really and truly cared about each one. She loved everyone and everyone loved her.



How many times I heard her say, "oh, I couldn't sleep a wink last night for worrying about ___________. I prayed all night long for (whoever it was)." I guess all that worrying did help her become a prayer warrior.


I don't think, though, that God intends us to be worriers. I base that belief on two scriptures:

... "I came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till it
overflows)." John 10:10 AMP

How can you enjoy life if you're consumed with worry?

And,

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties,

all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him,

for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you

watchfully"

1Peter 5:7 AMP

If you dwell on this scripture and meditate on it, pretty soon I have a feeling that worry will be less of a problem for you.

Why worry? The God of the universe cares about you!

Ooh, that reminds me of another scripture:

"And we know that all things work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

If you truly believe that everything will work out for good, why worry?


The above post was written in 2009, but I dug it out of the archives and am linking it up at the website, Serving Joyfully, for the Thriving Thursday blog party.  Because how can you thrive if you are eaten up with worry?

Survive and Thrive

How do you thrive ... when life gets tough?


When going through difficult times, so often Christians give up on doing the basics, because they don't "feel" like it.  Now is not the time to give up!  

• Stay in the Word - you need to hear from God through reading His Word through your eyes.
• Stay Praying - you need to hear from God in your innermost being.  If you are all "prayed out," just call on the name of Jesus and then wait and listen.  Sometimes during quiet times you'll be able to hear God speak.  Sometimes you just need silence to be refreshed.
• Stay in your local church - you need to be involved in corporate worship.  Often, the Holy Spirit will touch you.when you've been obedient to His Word to not give up on assembling with other worshipers. So many times, church is where something is said that resonates with you and you get just what you need.

These things are what you do to survive when you are in a trial.

Our focus today is not only surviving but thriving.

May I suggest what works for me when I am in a dark place?

• Worship, and then more worship: When you go through a bad time, the best thing to do is to sing yourself through it!  Ephesians 5:19 advises "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  You're putting positive thoughts in your sub-conscious by doing this instead of listening to all the negative things the enemy whispers to you about your situation. The enemy is a liar anyway - why listen to him?
• Work:  The old saying that an idle mind is the devil's workshop is so true.  It is too easy to give in to despair when you are doing nothing.  Anytime I've thrown myself into good old-fashioned work, I've felt so much better afterwards.  The bonus is that at the end of the day, my house is cleaner, my to-do list is whittled down and I'm ready for sleep.
• Watch for ways to help others: Instead of focusing on our pain, if we actively look for ways to bless others we will learn the secret of thriving in the midst of tough times.  If you are busy doing something to bless someone else, you won't have time to dwell on what's wrong in your life.  You'll find joy in giving (it's more blessed to give than receive) and you will kick in the law of sowing and reaping.  If you sow blessing, at some point, blessing will come back to you. Who but God would have come up with that idea?

 


The next time you face tough times decide to worship, work and watch for opportunities to bless.  You'll come through better than before!

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I'm excited to link up at the very first Thriving Thursday!

Thriving Thursdays is a link up for family-friendly bloggers, who are choosing to THRIVE in their lives.  It’s a place for us to encourage and inspire one another to live life to the fullest–in Jesus Christ.

If you'd like to join in, visit Crystal at her blog, Serving Joyfully.