When [worldly] Emotions Take Over

From my worldly view, I had such a bad day yesterday. I let the stresses of life consume me and I couldn't seem to shake it for the longest time. I was thinking about finances, the future, expenses we had coming up, Will graduating from seminary in May and our plans after that...and the list goes on. One thought led to the other and I was just getting upset. I texted Will and he did his best to comfort me and give me words of encouragement during my morning of panic, stress and fear of the unknown.

I'll admit, Will's affirmations did help, but not 100%. It was just then that I realized I was asking for comfort and peace in the wrong place. Sure, Will is my husband and does so great at being my husband and comforting me, but I needed to ask for those things from The Ultimate Comforter.

source: Kelly Ginn Photography

So I took a few deep breaths and just started to pray. I prayed for God to help me to relax and to reassure me that He's got it all under control. Our circumstances are no mistake. God has had them planned out and only He knows what's going to happen. I'm totally ok with that! God has our best interests in mind and is going to take care of us. Anytime I feel myself worrying about the future, these verses always come to mind:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

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God began to bring to my mind all the things that I am blessed with.

- My amazing husband of (almost) 3 years

- My sweet puppies

- Supportive family & friends

- A home

- A job

- A church home

and on and on and on...

I am so thankful for all that God had blessed me and my family with. And I'm thankful for his promise to give us peace and comfort in times of worry. A peace that no one or thing in this world can give.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

The next time your worldly fear and emotions start to take over, I hope that you'll be encouraged by the peace that only God can offer.

Have a great weekend!