As I've shared before worry has always been a large part of my personality type. And attempting to control situations is how, for many years, I've tried to keep the worry under control. But the fact is so many sitautions in life are completely out of my control. I can't control how other people will think and react. I can't control my body that has been racked with pain for 18 years. I can't control the fact that I can't work full-time because of my body. And the list goes on and on. For many years these worries would keep me up at night, hurt my stomach and make me a generally anxious person. But in the last year things have been changing.
I began to wonder what if I just stop worrying? I mean truly refuse to worry and every time I'm tempted to worry just pray instead. And in the process of doing that I think in part I've found a "cure" for worry-doing something you're afraid of. Now I don't mean going out and bungee jumping if you're scared of heights-although that might work! I mean really coming to a place where we recognize that there is absolutely nothing to fear because God is in control and we can trust whatever worry we have to Him. And when we do something we are afraid of or worried about (assuming God is telling us too) and it all works out it makes us realize how silly it was to worry in the first place. Let me give you a recent example. Back in early May, I felt God calling me to quit my primary job. This played into one of my deepest fears-having no money. I pride myself on being responsible with money and it seemed so crazy to quit my main source of income but yet I knew it's what I was supposed to do. In that moment I had 3 choices. I could choose to not obey, stay at my job, and let fear win. I could choose to quit my job but worry constantly about how I will pay my bills and fear would still win. Or I could quit my job and trust God to provide for me-this was the scariest option, the option where I had no control and this is the option I chose. And since then it's been clear everyday what a great choice that was. Not only has it given a much needed little break from working so much but it's also been a huge faith building experience! The week after I quit my job I unexpectedly got a check from my insurance company for almost $900, I've had random opportunties to make money and in my first month since I quit my job I actually even saved money after paying all my expenses!
What about you? Is God calling you doing something you're afraid of? Something you've worried about? Obey Him! I know it's tough, I know it's scary, I know it's risky. But the bigger risk is being outside His will. I certainly don't want to appear that I have it all figured out but from one worrier to another I can tell taking a risk for God is the safest place to be!
Maybe you've been in a similar situation before where God called you to something scary? Did you obey? How did it work out? Share your story in the comments!
