Worrying feels as natural to us as breathing at times, especially in a world that seems increasingly uncertain. It’s a familiar habit, one that seems to offer us a way to brace for impact, to prepare for what’s ahead. But beneath the surface, this habit of worry reveals a deeper spiritual struggle—a struggle with faith and trust in God’s plan for our lives.
The root of our worry is a protective instinct, a mental rehearsal for potential threats. We believe that by worrying, we’re somehow preparing ourselves to face whatever challenges come our way. It’s as if we think that envisioning the worst will shield us from it or give us the solution to avoid it entirely. But this approach stems from an emotional, instinctive part of us that can easily overshadow our rational thought processes.
For those of us who grew up in less than stable environments, anxiety and worry became survival tools, mechanisms to brace ourselves for the next upheaval. Yet, despite the discomfort, worry persists because part of us believes it serves a purpose—that it somehow keeps us safe or prepared. This belief holds us back from truly letting go and trusting that we don’t need to worry.
Where Does Faith Fit In?
At the heart of our worry is an unspoken doubt about God’s care and provision for us. This doubt is a significant spiritual issue because it directly challenges the essence of what God desires most from us: faith. Our worry signals a lack of faith, a tolerance for fear that contaminates our trust in God’s goodness and power.
Our attempts to control and fix situations on our own stem from a misunderstanding of our abilities and an underestimation of God’s sovereignty. This not only exhausts us but also distances us from the peace God offers.
Redefining Our Thoughts
Worry does not prepare us for the future; it depletes our energy, confuses us, and steals our joy for today without changing tomorrow. The realization that worrying is futile is the first step toward breaking its hold over us. Understanding this intellectually is one thing, but embracing it wholeheartedly, with both mind and spirit, is where true change begins.
Building a Stronger Faith
Faith is the antidote to worry, but it’s not as simple as just deciding to trust God more. Faith grows from a deep, personal knowledge of God. If worry reveals our fears, then faith illuminates our path forward, guiding us to trust in God’s character—His love, power, and provision.
Trust is built through relationship, through spending time in God’s presence, learning about His character, and experiencing His faithfulness. As we come to know God more intimately, our faith deepens, and our worries lose their power.
Embracing God’s Character
In moments of worry, we’re called not to dismiss our fears but to bring them to God, to use them as opportunities to grow closer to Him. By focusing on God’s love and power, we can begin to replace our doubts with a steadfast trust. Meditating on scriptures that affirm God’s protection and strength can help us internalize His promise to be our refuge.
Worrying challenges our spiritual journey, but it also offers an opportunity to grow, to deepen our faith, and to learn to live in the peace that God promises. It’s in our moments of greatest worry that God invites us to draw closer, to learn more about His character, and to lean on Him. Let’s take this journey of faith together, learning to trust God more deeply and to find peace in His presence, saying with confidence, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2).
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Faith Activist
Featured Image by Pixabay
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