Worry Ends Where Faith Begins
Easier said then done for sure. My journey to being worry free started several years ago when my children began to venture out on their own. When they started leaving the yard, driveway and Cul De Sac for the road. First, it was going around the block. Then, they would ride their bikes down the main road into town. Sometimes they were alone. Sometimes they were with friends. But they were always without me. I would pray and ask the Lord to protect them, but then I’d worry the whole time they were gone.
One day, the Lord checked my heart and I had a thought. “If you trust the Lord, you have to trust Him completely, even with your kids.” I was watching my son ride away on his bike when that thought came to me. I could feel a level of anxiety rise in my chest. I took a deep breath and said, “Okay Lord. I trust you. I will trust you to protect my kids, because I can’t.” And I walked away from the window. That was 10 years ago.
Since then, we’ve been through sports and injuries. Friends and break ups. Tough days at school and bullies. We went through one child getting his license and driving away. I began watching out the window again, but with a prayer and faith. That child drove 30 miles away everyday for his last 2 years of high school. Now he drives 45 minutes away for work. I still pray and have faith that the Lord will protect him and bring him home safe.
The second child got her license and began to drive away, with me in the window once more. As I watched her leave, I’d pray and have faith that the Lord would protect her as well. She began driving over 30 miles away for her last 2 years of high school as well.
There’s something that strikes fear in a mothers heart when the first child beings to leave the nest. As prayers are answered with that child’s return home each day, faith grows and the mothers heart relaxes. Until the youngest child begins to leave. That same fear strike her heart. Her chest tightens and it gets hard to breath. Just for a second she forgets to have faith as she prays. Then she remembers how the Lord answered her prayers all those years. Faith again takes hold and pushes out the fear. Where there is trust, there is faith. Where there is faith, there is hope.
Living without worry is a process. A long process. It doesn’t happen overnight. I’m not always great at it. It started with my children, but it applies to our employment and finances. Our home and car repairs. It applies to our other family members daily lives and their health.
As we go through those things in life that can shake us up, we must try to keep our focus on Christ. Remembering how he protected and provided in the past. We must continue to have faith.
Now I have my mom close by. She isn’t in very good health and makes poor decisions for herself that cause self harm. And I worry. I’ve been worrying a lot about her. For months now. Even before she moved here and now after she moved here. Then I realized her move here was the answer to prayer. A prayer I had stopped praying. I really just didn’t believe she would ever make a choice that was good for herself. Then she moved here so I could help take care of her. That answered prayer breeds trust, which leads to faith and hope. You can read more about that in an earlier post “Does God Really Answer Prayer?”
I am now on the path of faith where my mom is concerned. I continue to pray the big prayers for her. The out on a limb prayers. The long shot prayers. I pray them because I have faith and I’d rather not worry. I pray them, because the Lord is answering them. Praise the Lord!
Replacing worry with faith is easier said than done, but I can be done. Through faith.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
James 2:26, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
What is your faith story? How has answered prayer strengthened your faith and trust in the Lord?
Have a great week!
♥Sabrina
keystothegenuinelife.com 
Great lesson. I don’t have any children on earth yet. I only have one in heaven so I can’t imagine how easy it would be to worry constantly. I was amazed though at how soon the temptation to worry comes. When I was pregnant I worried constantly about the little blue berry sized baby. This is a great reminder though as my husband and I move towards trying again. Thank you very much for sharing!
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Andriana
I am sorry for your loss. On the other side, I can’t imagine losing a child. I hope that as you look to try again, the words the Lord spoke to me about trusting him even with my children, will ring in your mind and you will have peace. Thank you for sharing your story as well.
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This is such a powerful post. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! I have a one-year-old and I am a worrier by nature. I know I let fear plague me at times, and no doubt it will when my little guy continues to grow. Your word really resonated with me.
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Chrissa
I know it is so hard not to worry. I am not always great at seeking the Lord first either. I am glad I could give you Hope.
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I really struggle with anxiety. It has been an issue for as long as I can remember. I am constantly reading bible verses on worry and stress, and it does help a lot. Worrying is such a hard habit to break because I find myself worrying often without actually thinking about the fact that I’m doing it. It’s tough for sure. Thank you for this encouraging post.
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I’m with you. I sometimes stress so much at night that I clinch my teeth. I had to even get a night guard. I don’t even realize I’m doing it, but I clinch during the day too. When I find myself clinching, I know I am worrying and stressing way too much and it’s time to hand things over to the Lord. I pray that you can continue and not give up. Gal. 6:9, “Let us not become weary while doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
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oh this ❤ this post jumped out at me today in one of the Facebook groups when choosing what posts to read and comment on and Im so glad I landed here. I'm not yet a mom ( a lot of my worry comes with hoping someday I will be, and TTC) but its all the same. Worry is worry and I'm working so hard, in every moment, of every day to pray and give it ALL to Him. Not just pieces of it, but ALL of it and trust and have faith that EVERYTHING will work out according to Him and for good.
Prayers for your mom and your families situation. My mom is battling many health issues on her own as well, and there are so many times ive wanted to step over boundries that arn't meant for me. They are meant to be prayed on and have faith in.
Thank you for sharing this ❤ And for encouraging others.
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Mandi. I am glad you landed here too. My hope and prayer is that what I have to say would bring encouragement to others. Worry is a hard thing to over come for sure. Lord willing if we keep our eyes on Him, we can let some of it go. Thank you for your prayers for my mom. She surprises me sometimes. 🙂
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Yes!!!! Living worry free is such a process! If we are worrying we are not trusting in God and His amazing plan.. Love this post girl
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Thanks so much Brittany. It was God inspired for sure. 🙂
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I love this post! it is such a great reminder that having faith and trust in God will definitely make you worry free. I love to pray because I know God is listening.
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Yes! God is always listening. I’m glad you like my post. Thank you so much for stopping by.
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Wow! Such a good word! I love this – worry ends where faith begins! So true!
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Ya. I like it too. Jeffrey and I were out antiquing last weekend and saw a sign with that quote. We brought it home. It’s a good reminder for sure.
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I love this article about worry, Sabrina. Something that’s so very hard not to do! And I’m so thrilled for you that you are getting so many repsonses to your blog, now! All in good time, right? Keep up the good work!! Love you, Mom
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Thank you mom. Yes, I’ve gotten involved with some Facebook groups that help promote blogs. It’s been good to be in touch with other bloggers. I like it.
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Brina, my best friend and sister. I have had clients cancel on me today and I am now almost caught up on all your blog postings! What a joy to read your thoughts and hear your heart and even more of a joy to witness you expressing those things with the world. You have a lot to offer so many. I especially felt touched by this post and maybe I have a little to offer up on this topic as well. I grew up in a household of worry and if not put in check, I will tend to worry myslef. First and foremost, I’m a person of faith, but worry still pops up and rears it’s ugly head and I, like so many, struggle to let it be that one thought and not thousands that follow after. As a therapist, I’ve learned some skills to help me with worry that I wish I had when I was younger (like challenging my negative thoughts).We tell ourselves so many lies. I’m sure you can find a Thought Record worksheet from any CBT website that will help you learn the practice of challenging your thoughts. You might also find this interesting as a visual for worry. Just yesterday I was describing worry to a little boy with anxiety. Some people just know the uncomfortable feelings they feel when they worry excessively, but don’t know what worry actually is and sadly so many Christians feel as though they aren’t “Christian enough” or “Have enough faith” if people were to know they struggle with worry or temptation. I told this kiddo that “Worry is nothing but negative thoughts that you can’t get out of your head. Kinda like annoying bugs that keep buzzing around and won’t leave you alone.” It prompted a great discussion on how to change, challenge or get rid of thoughts that are negative, untrue, or even just unhelpful. The scripture that pops out to me when I think about worry or when I think about negative thoughts is 2 Corinthians 10:5 when Paul talks about “Taking every thought captive.” Our thoughts can lead us down a path we don’t belong even if it’s just a path of consistent worrying over those we love. Another thing that comes to my mind when I think of worry and the value of using scripture to remind me not to let thoughts have free reign in our minds and life is the idea of “Frisking your thoughts at the door of your mind.” I once heard that awesome basketball guy Jay Carty at a Christian conference and he used that line and it has stuck with me for more than 20 years. If it is good and worthy, I’ll let that thought live in my mind, but if it isn’t then it can’t come in. I get to choose what lives in my mind. Negative thoughts and worry might try to come in, but I frisk that thought at the door of my mind and it isn’t allowed entrance into something as valuable as my person. Just my thoughts. Thanks again for your awesome blog and for your everlasting friendship. Hello to your readers! Tina Marie
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I am sure you come across so many children with anxiety. Those who struggle with worry that they cannot control. I have been able to reroute my thoughts so that I can contain them. Mostly. Thank you so much for your time and input on this subject. The thing about blogging is it is my experience alone. I would love it if you wrote a guest post from your perspective on something that hits close to home for you. I know it would be amazing! Love you too sister.
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