I sometimes worry…
…that we won’t have enough money to afford a larger house and we’ll be stuck here with 10 children. I worry that I’ll quite literally be the “Old Lady Who Lived In A Shoe”. But that’s just silly…I’ll never get old…
…that my butt looks big in those new workout pants I just spent $20 on. Should have just saved the $20 for a down payment on a larger house. But then, I’d be pants-less. Not the career-path I was hoping to go down.
…that readers won’t be able to follow the brain-vomit and rabbit holes that I subject them to on a daily basis, i.e., those last two points.
…that people will expect me to be someone who I’m not (i.e. on time, clothes ironed, the best mother.)
…that those perfect people that I follow on Instagram really DO only eat healthy foods.
…that I’ll be tempted to aggressively force-feed those people a dang brownie.
…that they won’t like me anymore after I’ve attacked them.
…that I’ll have to start dying my hair soon. And that the hair dye will get on my clean floor.
…that I’ll miss out on something career-wise, because I’m choosing to stay-at-home with my children.
…that Henry will turn into a Clif Z-Bar. And I worry that they’ll try and discontinue the new Iced Oatmeal flavor.
…that I won’t be able to give my children the best education possible through homeschooling. And that they’ll be anti-social hermits.
…that I’ll start restricting calories again.
…that all this coffee is stunting my growth.
…that my growth is stunting my coffee. ?!!?!?
Basically, I worry a lot.
But God reminded me, through some not-so-subtle nudges recently, that I needn’t.
That He’ll supply all I ever need.
Matthew 5:25-34 (NIV)
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I needn’t worry about my value as a wife, a mom, or a woman. I needn’t second judge my decisions, what I KNOW to be the best for me and for my family.
Worrying won’t bring anything but discontentment and anxiety into my life. Fretting over tomorrow, over what other’s think….that’s just a waste.
We must get better about TRUSTING! TRUSTING that He knows best. That He will provide. That He will give us the desires of our hearts.
The only command He asks of you in return?
“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
I’m off to seek.
And to stop worrying. At least make a conscious effort.
To let go.
Wanna join me?
QUESTION: What have you been worrying about? Lay it all out. I want to listen.
splendid…lindsay
I worry that
…after 15 years of trying NOT to get pregnant, I won’t be able to.
…that my sister and I will never live in the same city, and her kids won’t know me like I want them to.
…that we won’t be able to afford for me to be a stay-at-home-mom.
…my 73 year old house made of plaster is going to crumble around us.
…my tulips won’t bloom.
…my long hair will never grow back.
…I will get caught in a tornado.
…my dad isn’t saved.
…the Cardinals won’t win another World Series without Pujols.
…that I’m crazy for registering for the Chicago Marathon.
……And that’s IT!! :-)
Wow Lindsay! This post was perfect for today. There is a mom of a couple of teenagers at the dance studio I teach at that don’t like me very much (let me clarify that she also doesn’t know me, only that I am new and I make her girls work hard), and I have been worrying about her all day. And I have been worrying that maybe other parents will start to not like me (even though there are plenty that love me and have taken the time to get to know me). I have even started to worry that maybe I am not a good teacher or not a nice person somehow when I teach dance. All of these thoughts are irrational, but they seemed to take over today… Thanks for reminding me of what I already know… “who of you by worrying…?” Loved that picture.
I’ve basically been worried about my financial situation for……..my whole life. But I KNOW that staying at home is without a doubt what God wants from me, and that he will provide a way for it to happen, even if it’s just day-by-day. In fact, sometimes I think He wants it to be like that so I keep having to turn to him instead of relying on myself. Dang it.
I have been reading this same passage over and over here lately. I am such a worry wart too! My worrying is actually making my situation worse, and I need to just trust God to take care of me. Why is that so hard sometimes?!?! He has and never will let us down!
I used to worry about worrying! I think that had a lot to do with why my weight ballooned to 252 pounds. I often worry that my knee will give out and not allow me to exercise anymore. And then I will get fat again!
I read a quote every morning that says:
“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles….it empties today of its strength.”
`Corrie ten Boom
I try very hard to turn it all over to God; it’s something I pray about every day. The hardest thing for me to get through my head ( since I am such a control freak) is that I am not in control..God is. Faith is definitely a journey!
You have a warmth and genuineness about you that is rare, Lindsay….keep smiling and stop worrying!
Those are totally valid worries, friend!! Take it one day at a time! I’ll be praying for you and that knee!
And thanks for the compliment – made me smile!
Ahh, my worries sound much like yours. I remind myself often of that verse, and sometimes have to repeat it to myself daily. Hugs for you, you aren’t alone friend!
P.S. I SOOOOOOOOO put my chocolate ice cream/milk mixture in the freezer for a few minutes last night after I poured the milk, and it was like a little bit of heaven! Thanks for the tip, ice-cream eating twin!
wait did you really say ten kids?!? (also, good–no, GREAT post)
10 or 12…what’s one more added to the pile? ;)
Whhyyyy don’t you make it so i get an email when you reply to comments?! please?
I used to worry about everything…..I mean everything!! I think that had a lot to do with why I ballooned to 252 pounds.
Every morning I read this quote that I have above my computer.
“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles…. it empties today of its strength.”
― Corrie ten Boom
I do try very hard to turn all of my worries over to God. It’s not an easy thing to do by any means; it’s something I constantly pray about. My husband tells me every day to just trust in God. It comes very easily for him, not as easily for me. I think as my Faith grows, I will move closer to God and it will become easier for me to turn it all over.
One thing I can’t stop worrying about, though, is if this darn knee is going to go out on me making it impossible for me to exercise. I worry if that happens that I will get fat again!!! =)
Nothing is in our control, really.
Keep smiling and stop worrying, Lindsay. You’re a shining star that lights up a room when you walk into it. I’ve met few people in my day that radiate the warmth and genuineness that you do!!
`Susan
I have to make a conscious effort to not worry and just turn over anything that’s bothering me to God and let Him deal with…easier said than done though…
my worries usually include finances, will I ever own a house (instead of paying MORE than a mortgage payment to rent a tiny condo) and my daughter….
Hey lindsay. You can force feed me a brownie anytime and I won’t hate you for it….but I may ask for the recipe ;) Love your post…we must be on the same wavelength! I’m definitely trying to stress and worry less. It is something I’ll have to keep practicing and hopefully I get better with time
I used to be a giant worrier; about every little thing.
Then one day, as I fretted to my husband about something very small (in the grand scheme of things), he said to me (paraphrasing);
“your life must be pretty great if that’s all your have to worry about”
He meant it in a positive way and I remember that statement every time something small gets me going!
I worry about every thing. The other night I was up all night long because I was worrying about stupid crap that doesn’t even matter now!!
Awesome post doll, I love how open you are :) I don’t worry….I KNOW in my heart the direction I take my life and I make the “List” and action steps to achieve what I desire! If I get down I go into a frenzy of craziness and its not fun for me…so if that happens, I journal my heart out until I feel better!
You WILL get that big house, set the goal, and take your steps, doll!!
WOOO HOO!!
xxoo
amen.
i wish i had the strength to remember this all the time because i sure do waste a great deal of time and energy stressing over things that i cant control.
thanks for the reminder. i just need to trust and let go.
ps i cracked up at the bin laden photo.
Thank you so much for posting this. This has been on my heart all week. We are waiting to find out where we are going to have to move and when!! We’ve been waiting for over a year (looong story) and we thought we were going to Colorado and now we aren’t and we have no idea when we will find out and our lease is up in a couple of months…whew! I could go on and on. But through all of this, I know HE is in control and will not abandon us. He will take care of us, even though it may be hard and uncertain, He is bigger!!
Thank you so much for posting exactly what I have been thinking about. I appreciate you.
ohhh linds, thanks for the post. it seriously is just what i needed this week. what have i been worrying about? to put it bluntly and in a nutshell, if i can have kids thanks to my absent period. God is in control and He knows what He’s doing… that’s what I keep trying to tell myself.
Wow!! Thank you for sharing this Lindsay! This was more than perfect for me today! I took a test for physiology last night and don’t feel I did so well on it. I have been worrying and stressing ALL day that I will not be able to get into nursing school, I apply next month, if I do not do well in this class and this one test will hold me back. So I in turn keep second guessing this career path, all because I am worrying about this one test! I have been praying all day that heavenly father will somehow make that test score good and help me to get in. I now realize I must have the faith and trust in him that he will make it happen if it is right for me! T
Thank you Lindsay! You are awesome! I will join you in the seek and to let it go! :)
GREAT post because that’s the verse I always have to be reminded about! I am the world’s biggest worrier…I won’t bore you with the specifics, it could be a book longer than War and Peace…
My Mom (who homeschooled me, brought me up in the Word, had a messy house but always kept us clean and well fed, eventually started dyeing her hair and found that putting old towels down is the best solution, and who raised us with limited means surrounded by one of the wealthiest communities in SoCal) reminded me that whenever you worry, you gotta start counting your blessings…if you are counting your blessings, there is no room for worry in your mind. :) I love my Mom. I hope I can be as awesome as her when I grow up. :)
I worry so dang much about if I’m doing a good enough job at things – especially being a mom. I fear I’m a craptastic mom half the time. Sad but true. I just do like you and try to remember I can only let christ live through me and He will take care of it all. If only that was done so easily every moment of every day. ;)
you WILL get hair color on your floor. it may stain.
I am not a worrier. things get to me, and sometimes my heart and head are heavy with events going on, but I do my darnedest to not worry about things I cannot control. something I have done, I process it, think it over, deal with it (um, sometimes ignore it for a while, if I’mm being honest…).
if they discontinue the Iced Oatmeal, I will make you some :)
Wonderfully said!
I think this is something we ALL need reminders of daily!
Thanks for sharing.
Man I read you loud and clear here…always worrying about money, that I am doing a good job as a mom so that my boys will grow up to be great men, worry about sending my kids to school now that there was another school shooting…the list goes on on and on…I am a bit of a worry wart at times…my husband is my calming force
I am IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was homeschooled and I turned out okay!
Your worries are perfectly normal- and I enjoyed reading them (if that doesn’t sound weird…)
I worry/think about a lot these days. I’m in such a transition right now. I’m very unhappy in my job and desperately want to do something entirely different, but I also want to get pregnant soon. And we’re trying to move across the country to Colorado, but are stuck because of the housing market. I guess I just worry about what to focus on and how many risks I should take in regards to career, family, house, etc.
Hi Lauren, your worries are certainly valid. What helps me sometimes — when I am considering risks — is to think about the absolute worst-case-scenario that could happen. Then you can decide if that (or other more-likely worst cases) is/are worth the risk. Maybe this won’t help you, but sometimes it is nice to remind myself I can bounce back from nearly anything. Other than death, there aren’t many risks not worth taking if your happiness is at stake. xo
can you change it? yes? then don’t worry. no? then don’t worry. it’s all good. xoxo
Lately both my husband and I have really been having to trust in god, that he’ll provide a full time job for him. After lots of worrying and waiting we’re seeing that he does listen, we just wanted it on our time. That’s wrong, it all works out on his times in his plan. There are reasons for the tough times. He tests and rewards and is always there.
Beautiful message today Lindsay, definitely one I needed to read today, and every day. Keep on trusting in him :)
Great post, Lindsay. We all need this reminder all the time, I think! I’m not a huge worrier by nature, but the peace this passage brings me is the reminder and exclamation mark I need to keep trusting and not worrying. Thanks for the thoughts, friend!
I slip into this trap often, I think that’s because I still try to be a control freak, although I know I can’t be! This is something I have to be reminded of quite often – STOP WORRYING and PRAY!
I don’t want to share my worries, but instead of sadness and anxiety I’m trying to focus the worry toward extra “i love you”s and more family time.
I swear I have worried since the day I was born. I used to worry so much I was diagnosed with ulcers as a child and was on medication for it multiple times a day. Unfortunately I can’t say this worry/anxiety left as I got older. If anything, it’s gotten worse. Thankfully I’ve been able to keep things somewhat in check through running.
Current worries:
…my body figure. I know I shouldn’t but for some reason I feel I’ve been battling it. It’s not that I worry about the number on the scale. I haven’t weighed myself in months. It’s if the pants fit. I’m vegan and that’s non negotiable but I’m still trying to figure out what/how it’s best to eat as a vegan…raw, cooked, etc.
…if I’ll have a job come the end of the year. I’m trying my best to pursue full-time blogging…but will it happen? Ultimately I want to be happy in what I do. Bottom line.
…trying to balance everything. Am I keeping up with the housework and providing the best life for our companion animals while I focus on training, work, and blogging?
We could probably be here hours talking about my worries/thoughts. My minds constantly in motion. I try my best to live in the moment and remember, this too shall pass. =)
i’m a huge worrier too! but for what it’s worth, i think you’re doing an amazing job with your life and your kids!
Thank you for this reminder to no worry. It really doesn’t do much good does it?
I like this, Lindsay. Worrying isn’t productive. Recently I realized how much I was hurting my sense of self worth by worrying…about being one of the oldest students in my class…not fitting into blogging cliques…not climbing hard “enough”. It was putting me on the defensive, like I had to justify every action or where I am in my life. I decided to cut the strings of my worries & allow myself to see my value again. I’m good enough to be where ever it is I choose to be. I’m just doing my thing & letting things fall where they may. A weight has been lifted, & I feel genuine again.
this comment made me smile, Allie!! Good for you!
I loooove that quote – and thank you for this post. I’ve been worrying a lot lately (you know why), but really that’s only hindering me. That bible verse is going to be my mantra this week.
Aaaand I didn’t know you were planning on homeschooling – that’s so cool! John thinks I should someday!
YES! You should homeschool…you’d make a great teacher. ;)
ohhhh love this so much. i’ll just be vague and say i worry all the time, but you are right it is not productive!
it took me 30 years but I let my worry go.
I realized it was praying for what I did not want.
xo
Amen!! I often have to just pray for GOD’S will, and not my own!