I come from a line of worry warts – my grandmother is a worrier, my mother is a worrier, and so by nature, you can probably guess that I would grow up to be one as well.
For a long while, I was. I used to worry so much that I couldn’t fall asleep at night. I would just lay there, thinking about everything that needed to be worried about for the following day – so much so that I could feel my heart pounding under the pressure. I would worry myself until I was upset, even while nothing was happening.
I would worry about what I’d do if something awful happened to a loved one – just out of the blue, a thought would pop into my mind and send me almost to tears over things that had not even happened.
I would worry about how I’d pay a particular bill, then I’d worry about what would happen if I couldn’t pay, then I’d envision a horrible sequence of scenarios in my mind that almost drove me insane.
Once everything was over – somehow I’d scrounge up enough money and I realized that nothing even close to what I had imagined had even occurred. I often worried myself crazy, for no reason at all.
Then, I discovered the power of prayer. I came to realize that worrying meant that I was not praying about the problem, but instead was trying to solve it with my mind – which makes no sense at all, because without physical action, the mind can’t do anything. I was trying to solve problems that couldn’t be solved by human means.
I had to learn to take those things that I was worrying about, and then to not only pray about them, but actually trust that God could handle it without me.
I worried because I wanted to be the one to fix things, but I’ve learned the hard way, that I can’t fix anything. I had to accept that – once I did, it became a lot easier to pray and trust that God has it all under control, anyway. No loss of sleep is required.
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Kiesha holds a Master of Arts in English, is a writing instructor and blog consultant.
I had to learn to take those things that I was worrying about, and then to not only pray about them, but actually trust that God could handle it without me.
Amen! This is a lesson that many of need to learn.
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Barriers to Suicide =-.
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Kiesha Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Hi Kevin!
Yeah, I learned it the hard way to – it’s the trust part that is hard, but once you get that, you will rarely worry about anything again.
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Kiesha, this is so true. I pray we all not only learn, but master this lesson to pray instead of worry. My mentor always says, “Worry does nothing to change tomorrow, it only robs today of its joy.”
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..10 Things Every Christian Single Woman Should Know =-.
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Kiesha Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Hi Lisa!
That is a powerful quote – super true!
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Very good and accurate post. I can to relate to this, I too come from a long line of worriers, and was grateful when God showed me this by his Holy Spirit. The old saying is true…”If you gonna worry about it, DON’T pray about it, and if you’re gonna pray about it, then DON’T worry about it!”
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Kiesha Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Hi Lady V,
Thanks for stopping by!
That old saying is definitely true! It’s a waste of energy to sit around and worry. I choose prayer
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Hi Kiesha,
I didn’t know that you ran another blog. Happy to have found it.
This post reminds me of Winston Churchill’s quote:
“I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.”
I’ve spent months in worry about things which never came to pass. When I let go and let God awesome things began to happen quickly. This is why I’m back to meditating 1-2 hours a day. Just let go and let God do the work by getting my thinking mind out of the way.
Great advice!
Ryan Biddulph
.-= Ryan Biddulph´s last blog ..How to Slap Your Next Blog Post Out of the Park =-.
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Kiesha Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Hi Ryan!
I’m so glad you found this blog as well! Yes, I’ve been blogging here for about a year and half now. I agree that it really is a matter of just letting go and letting God.
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i like the way you think..it’s but true..make God part of your daily living surely it would be best of all solutions..
.-= Shale´s last blog ..Nokia N8 Carries Improved Symbian 3 =-.
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I can so relate to worrying so much that it keeps me up at night. As a minister, I have discovered that when I am consumed by worry, it means I am trying to handle things on my own. It is my cue that I need to pray and turn it over to Spirit. When I do that, I can relax, and the outcome is usually so much better than I could ever have expected.
.-= Della Menechella´s last blog ..Stress and Spirituality Spirit- Mind- Body- Connection Stress Reducers =-.
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So true, and thanks for the reminder! I sometimes think I need it daily.
I think, too, that often we worry because we think “If something bad happens, I need to be ready.”
We think worrying will help us be ready.
What we forget is that God gives us grace when we need it. He doesn’t give us grace for things that aren’t happening–He only gives us grace at the time. So if you think you can’t handle something now, you’re right. You can’t. But if it ever does actually happen, you’ll be able to, because God will carry you!
Here’s a post I wrote on exactly that same subject!
.-= Sheila Gregoire´s last blog ..7 Steps to Raising a Teen Who Wont Date Too Young =-.
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Hi there =) I told you I’ll comeback
I really like your posts I bet you are so inspired when you wrote them. Before learning this principle, life really is hard. You see worrying too much is one way of not being grateful, and being ungrateful is a Sin.
Have you seen my Hub before? You can check that out and I would love to hear from you how was it =) Positive Communication
.-= Rambo Ruiz´s last blog ..Four Christian Marriage Counseling Success Secrets =-.
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prayer is the only way for us communication with God, great article.
.-= sony´s last blog ..Digital music technology =-.
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Hi there, I see you’ve come to fine conclusions. I had similar situation a couple of weeks ago, I was worried to much about everything, I lost my apetite, started to smoke cigarettes and couldn’t fall asleep because of excess of thoughts. I realize that the following situation doesn’t make sense and maybe not everything depends on me. I started to pray, with smile on my face, I started to believe that somewhere there is someone who is able to help me, to take care of things I can’t. Thanks of it I gain more peace and calm, though I am not 100% sure if I am right
.
.-= Tanie OC´s last blog ..WARTA otrzyma?a nagrod? „Top Player Rynku Flotowego 2010” =-.
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Hi Kiesha. I found your blog using Stumble Upon. What you’ve written is so true. I try to remember Matthew 6:25-29 – Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on….
I’m glad to have have “stumbled into your corner of the web”.
.-= Saidah @ AProverbsWife.com´s last blog ..A Great Stockpile Begins with Coupons =-.
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Kiesha Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Hi Saidah,
So glad you found me. I’ll definitely have to drop by and check out your blog. Hope to see you here again.
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Wow, this me all the way…A worry wart, I’m trying my best to lean to pray about it, and give it to GOD, and let him take the wheel. It’s not easy, but I’m trying to take baby steps to reach that level. Thanks so much Kiesha!
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Kiesha Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Hi Tracy!
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, this isn’t an easy task. At times it will be scary, but those are the times when we have to remind ourselves about the things God has already done. If He did it before, He can do it again. Worry is a component of fear – we have to remember that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. Make your move and then trust in Him fully to prepare the way. It requires practice and it’s okay if you have to keep reminding yourself 30 times a day. He’s got our backs!
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