Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you. 1 Pet 5:7
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:5b-6
So I went to bed anxious and woke up anxious – a Charlie Brown fog hovering, blocking out the joy. As I walked and talked to God, I argued with myself that God means for us to obey him in these commands. They are not suggestions. And that if he commands something, then he will give us the power to follow through. What were my anxieties? They involved relationships and job situations among people I love very much, for whom I pray and then obviously stay worked up about it.
Anxious me: I HAVE prayed, but I just can’t get my mind off of these situations. I really care about these people!
Sane me: But don’t you believe God? He says that we are to pray about everything and GIVE him the situations and then get on with our job.
Anxious me: what could be more important than these relationships and situations? After all, I really LOVE these people!
Sane me: but God has promised that he will take care of them. Pray about them once first thing in the morning and then get on with what he wants you to do!
Anxious me: and that would be….?
Sane me: you’re an ambassador for Christ, you are to reflect the glory of God. How can you sparkle and bring joy to others if you’re so worried about something? You’re a walking billboard for there being NO GOD.
Anxious me: so, I pray about these things first thing in the morning and then forget about them?
Sane me: well, do you think your being anxious will HELP the situation?
Anxious me: no..but sometimes I can’t help them popping into my mind
Sane me: you’re right – and when they do nag at you, just remind yourself that you have entrusted them to the care of the one Person who CAN actually do something and will do the absolute BEST thing, because he loves them perfectly and knows what is best for their sanctification.
Anxious me: okay..I will confess my anxiety and lack of belief and try again.
**
And Praise the Lord – by the end of the day, 2 of the situations had improved and I had spent the day out in the world doing my job of being an ambassador of Hope.
Now it’s a new day, and with God’s help, I will make the same decision so that this casting problems and leaving them in God’s hands becomes a new pattern.
Reflections on God's Word 
Dec 16, 2009 @ 19:55:30
I’m reading with a smile on my face because I’ve had similar conversations with myself. Do you think God laughs at the way we over-analyze things sometimes? Your description of “a Charlie Brown fog” was brilliant. Bless you!
Dec 16, 2009 @ 20:00:23
You’re probably correct about it being over-analyzing. My trouble is that it is a battle I have to fight repeatedly. We should know better and just trust Him!
Dec 16, 2009 @ 20:09:20
True–it’s definitely a process, though. I’m a certified, card-carrying control freak trying to learn how to “let go and let God.” It’s not easy by any means.
I think that’s why He lets us go through things sometimes…why He delays His answers. The more we face things we can’t figure out ourselves, the more we have opportunities to learn that He’s faithful to us. I can trust Him a little more to take care of areas in my life now because I saw Him handle situations in my life two years ago, etc. It’s not total surrender yet, but it’s at least a start.
Jan 04, 2010 @ 03:50:25
I generally give in to my worry. Your comments were an encouragement to me to fight this and give my concerns to God.
Jan 04, 2010 @ 12:34:43
I find that I have to do this multiple times in a day. We don’t default to trusting God. Our nature is to fear. Hence, Christ says multiple times: Fear not!
And we can choose not to fear when we remember that God has our best interests in his keeping and sovereign care. We don’t know what is best for us!
Maria