I hate admitting this, but I can really be a worrier sometimes. Maybe you can relate.

Usually, the thing I’m fretting over is something that’s not within my reach of control. But somehow, it seems that by sitting there worrying about it, that’s totally going to fix things, right?

I can’t even count the number of instances I’ve wrung my hands for some amount of time before it occurred to me that I haven’t even prayed or sought God on the issue yet.

And how often do we worry about something that’s not even real? We conjure up fears in our minds and worry about all the “what ifs.” I know I do.

Come to think of it, this happened to me the other day. Fear crept into my mind about something totally nonexistent but hypothetical. All in my head. Then I felt God’s gentle nudge, reminding me he was there.

When I finally prayed to Him, I felt relief. He gives a peace that passes understanding, and it’s amazing.

We tend to complicate this concept. But it’s so simple: Just ask Him. He wants to hear what’s on your heart. You’re His child and He would love nothing more than to just talk with you. It’ true God already knows what you need, but He wants you to tell Him.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8

Isn’t that a great promise? If we just seek Him and His will, He’ll provide for us. No concern is too big or too small.  But worrying in the meantime isn’t going to get us there any faster.

I can equate this to something I do often – running on a treadmill. It’s a good way to exhaust yourself without actually going anywhere. Worrying is exactly the same thing.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? -Matthew 6:25-27

The Lord continually reminds me of the last part of that verse. It seems so obvious – how could we add a single hour to our lives by worrying? But if you’re like me, you may forget!

A good reminder of this is to think back to a time when I felt fear about a particular situation and how worrying didn’t improve anything. Then I think of what God did. And you know what? He always came through. He is so faithful.

Sometimes I can’t believe how good God has been to me. I’m so undeserving, yet he continually provides more than I ask for. So why did I worry so much? True faith is trusting that God isn’t going to let us down. He never does.

He isn’t going to let you down either. Just ask Him for help. He wants to intervene in your situation and give you a peace that passes all understanding.