Do you worry about your place in life, in this world, in the body of Christ?
Do you worry about whether you’re in the right career or on a high-enough rung on the ladder?
Do you worry about being single or whether your future is bright or bleak?
In other words, do you worry if you’re living out God’s will for your life or if you’re missing out?
God wants you NOT to worry! There are two categories in life that you can allocate everything to: Things you cannot control, and things you can control.
Let God take care of the things you cannot control
Focus on the things you CAN control, and let God take care of the rest. In doing so, you are exercising your faith and trust in God! You are opening yourself up to see how God takes care of you every day with the things that you cannot influence, whether you are worrying about them or not. Luke 12:22-26 says:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"
This passage offers assurance that no living creature is insignificant to God, least of all his beloved people! What are you worrying about today? Practice giving God “the rest” by offering your worries in prayer and disallowing those thoughts to come back so that you can focus on the specific tasks you can control.
Prepare for the things you can control
The Bible provides great direction on the ways you can conduct your life that contribute towards a positive future; these are things you can control. Discipline your mind, your thoughts, and your heart to put yourself in place to receive God’s blessing when it’s ready for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 advises:
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:8-9 is a fantastic passage that actually teaches you how to discipline your thoughts and actions:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
God wants you to be the kind of person marked by self-control, peace, patience, and kindness. You may not be able to control the timing of certain events in your life, but you can control your attitude and actions. Leave the rest to God.
Pray for peace and guidance
If you focus on the things you cannot control, you will be filled with stress and anxiety because you aren’t meant to control every aspect of your life. Live with faith that God is good and He wants the best for you like a father, and that he will bring the next good thing into your life. The serenity prayer can help you to start a conversation with God in which you take measurable steps to trust in Him:
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.