Aug
23
Trade Anxiety for Joy
Filed Under Devotional
I’ve always had a rather laid back attitude. I don’t panic easily and while I do get angry, I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever really lost control. My wife, on the other hand, is an admitted worrier. She knows she does it, but that doesn’t stop her.
It’s the worst when she has to leave me and my son at home and there are chores to do that she would normally do. She’ll leave detailed instructions with each of us. Then, she’ll call us from her cell phone to remind us. And, if something needed to be done at a certain time, she’ll call again at that time. It’s okay, I understand her need to be sure. I still love her.
As I grew up and learned more about how the world works and took on more responsibility, I actually found more things to be anxious about. At the same time, though, I began to learn more and more about leaving those things at God’s feet. So, my relaxed personality hasn’t changed much, but my reasoning has gone from, “I can’t change that, so I won’t worry about it,” to, “God has it under control, so I don’t have to worry about it.”
“When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19
It used to be the case that I didn’t care or chose not to care. Now, it’s not that I’m ignoring those issues, I just know they are in more capable hands than mine. I can relax knowing that He will take care of them to His satisfaction.
My wife may be right not to trust me to get dinner started or get the laundry done, but we can certainly trust God to take care of the things we might chose to worry about.
Trade your anxiety for joy.