Stop Worrying – Helpful Ways to Live with Hope & Joy
Are you a worrier?
You may not be a chronic worrier, but sometimes in the middle of an overwhelming trial, you can’t stop worrying about the list of “what ifs” that are weighing you down.
Although everything seems fine at the moment, you’re still feeling anxious and unsettled.
When I look back on my childhood, I think I grew up worrying. As a firstborn people-pleaser trying to juggle school, music lessons, and keeping my parents and friends happy, provided plenty for me to ponder in the middle of the night.
And age didn’t help. Our parenting years gave me a plethora of things to worry about.
The thing is, worry doesn’t prevent problems. Eventually, several of the things I’d worried about happened, and I realized that I needed help.
So, I turned to the Lord and a wise counselor for counsel.
Here are some of the things they taught me…
Helpful Ways to Stop Worrying
and Live with Hope and Joy
1. Face Your Fears Honestly
Nothing will change if you and I don’t admit we have a problem. But when we face them head-on and take them to the Lord in prayer, we open the door to the Spirit, who reminds us that God is near and He is greater than those things that concern us.
David wrote…
I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me.
Psalm 34:4
He freed me from all my fears.
2. Write It Down/Put it Away
Rev kept a wooden box on his desk that he called his “Let God take care of it” box. Things causing worry or frustration were written down and placed inside. Then he made the conscious decision to leave them alone until they were resolved or there was something that could be done about them.
David also wrote…
Give your burdens to the Lord,
Psalm 55:22
and He will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
3. Ask for Help
God graciously puts people in our lives who will help and encourage us. There are people who care and want to help you if you’ll let them. If you don’t want to confide in a friend or family member, ask your pastor to recommend a Christian counselor for you to discuss your concerns.
Solomon wrote…
Get all the advice and instruction you can,
Proverbs 19:20
so you will be wise the rest of your life.
4. Actively Let It Go
Most of the time, you and I can’t do anything about the things that worry us—the hurts, regrets, what-ifs, and whys. Although we want to stop worrying and know it doesn’t change anything, we often return to the same unsettling concern.
Here are a couple of helpful tips to try yourself or with a worried child…
Go outside and blow worry bubbles. Watch them sail off into space or pop and disappear. Either way, you’ve let them go.
Make a playlist of songs that brighten your spirits and make you want to get up and move around.
Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.
Psalm 46:10 (GW)
5. Take Control of Your Thoughts
Quickly recognize your worried thoughts and intentionally think about something else. Recite verses you’ve memorized, sing a song of praise, give it to God in prayer, take some deep breaths, count your blessings, or go out and blow some worry bubbles.
Rev memorized the following words of Paul, and repeated them anytime worry tried to take over…
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
So, let’s take our worries to God in prayer and ask Him to help us live with hope and joy…
A Prayer to Stop Worrying
Father God, thank you for promising to be with us and give us what we need. Your Word repeats the words “don’t worry” and “don’t be afraid” often. And yet, we’re prone to looking into an unknown future, feeling unsettled and anxious.
I’m sorry, Lord. Please forgive me. Forgive me for pridefully thinking it’s all up to me. Forgive me for doubting that You can and will go with me. And for doubting Your ability to help me handle whatever You allow.
Thank you for the many times You have helped me through things I’d wasted hours worrying about in the past. And thank you for teaching me that You are faithful to keep Your promises.
By Your grace, please help me honestly face the things that concern me. Help me see the ways my anxiety hurts me, and give me the tools I need to stop worrying.
I will pause today to make a list of the things upsetting me, and I will surrender them to You by physically letting them go. But then, Lord, I ask You to give me the things I need to replace them with Your truth … things that will help me live with hope and joy.
Yes, I’m prone to worry. But You are Lord of my life, and I believe You are greater than anything this world presents. I believe that the Spirit in me is greater than the spirit in the world, and when You give me strength, I can face whatever comes my way.
“Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” Amen.
I’m sure our list of ways to stop worrying could be longer; these are just some of the things I’ve found that help. If you have other things that have helped you, please let us know about them in the comments.
Here are some words of wisdom from Henry Ford…
“I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”
And some inspired words written by the Apostle Paul…
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
May the Lord be with you and give you everything you need to stop worrying and live with hope and joy.
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I am a worrier extraordinaire!! Someone once told me that I worry because I don’t have anything to worry about!! I do think that was an exaggeration.
I love all of your suggestions, and I do practice some of them already. I love Bible verses that I can repeat that have to do with worry as well.
Giving to God and letting go is always a challenge for me. I want to give but keep taking them back. Then I realize that I am not letting God do what He has promised. And I know that God always does what He promises. Then I think of the scripture that asks, “will worrying add a single day to your life?” Nope, it doesn’t!!
Thank you, Deb, once again for a wonderful lesson and a fantastic prayer.
I pray that you have a blessed and safe and joyful week!
Thank you, Sue. We do have a lot in common don’t we. I work so hard to fight perpetual worry. I’m so thankful the Lord invites us to bring them all to them and let Him help us carry them. I can’t imagine trying to do even a moment without Him. Have a wonderful week, dear friend!
Thank you for these wise comments and suggestions. And for the Bible verses to keep at the front of our minds.
Thank you, Gloria! God bless you!
I loved so many of your strategies to turn from worrying and trust in God’s provision. Rev’s worry box and the idea of blowing worry bubbles both spoke to me as extremely positive ways to put worries out of sight and out of mind. Thanks, Deb, and God bless you!
Thanks much, Martha! I especially like to use that one with kids. Have a blessed week!
I like the tip to write it down and put it away.
Thanks, Maree! Rev always had great ideas for managing difficult emotions. Have a wonderful week. Blessings!
Thank you for this, Deb! You are ministering straight to my soul today!
I’m so glad it blessed you, Stacey! Thank you so much! Blessings and HUGS!!
I also give it to God and then take it back. I don’t know why? I can’t do anything with it! I think it’s the enemy again, instilling fear in me…that I need to say something or do something but don’t know what or when. I don’t know when I’m procrastinating or if I’ve let go and let God. In those times I pray that the Holy Spirit reminds me to not worry about anything and to help me pray about everything. Have a good week Deb and subscribers!
The enemy is relentless, isn’t he? I want to faithfully remember to “hid God’s Word in my heart,” so that I can resist his efforts to make me fearful and worried. And you’re right, I then want to pray that the Spirit will draw them to the forefront of my thinking with worry tries to creep in. God’s blessings!
Great thoughts and verses on worrying! My worry time is often when I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep. So, I often start praying for people.
When we were in college together and teaching at the same school, I always admired your talents and how easily you handled the load! God bless you!
I love that, Sandy! Prayer is the best way to defeat worry. And I had no idea I faked having it together back then. You’re so very kind. I loved our days at school and especially teaching together. It was always great to see your smiling face and know that I had a friend close by. Blessings to you and Jim. HUGS!