“Don’t beat yourself up with anxious thoughts. We’ve got this. ~Jesus”
I wanted to make it all OK.
The problem is that it wasn’t OK.
I was doing all that I knew to do, and it wasn’t working. We were fighting together as a family, yet there was no formula. There was no set pattern to success. There wasn’t an “I’m out of here” option, because it was someone we loved.
One morning I tried to pray, but I couldn’t sit still long enough. My legs matched my anxious thoughts as I paced the carpet.
Jesus, help me.
Over the past few years, I’ve been on a “Come With Me” journey. I’ve discovered that every day and every situation holds an invitation, as we follow Jesus.
Was I following Him?
Not really. I was following worry which led me to angst, which invited me to despair. I was following anxious thoughts, which produced a hundred different scenarios, and none of them good. I was following expert opinions. I was following Facebook groups, which offered help but also fueled my greatest fears about this particular battle.
But was I following Jesus?
Where might He lead, if I accepted His invitation to walk this hard valley with me?
In Luke 4, a troubled man is tormented. Jesus sees beyond his anxious thoughts to the man beneath. He speaks in authority, muzzling the brokenness within. The man accepted Jesus’ invitation, and it changed where he lived – which was in darkness.
While I may not identify with this man’s story completely, I know what it is for anxious feelings to storm in. Jesus doesn’t shy away from our anxious thoughts. He looks beyond the outward symptoms to see us individually.
He stills our disquieting thoughts.
In Luke 5, I hear Jesus reaching out to this man, and I also hear him reaching out to me with a similar invitation.
Don’t beat yourself up with anxious thoughts. We’ve got this.
How does it change us when we say yes to that invitation? That morning it changed the course of my anxious thoughts.
Jesus, you love this one even more than me
Give me wisdom when I run out of my limited supply.
Pour out peace over my heart as we walk this hard road together. I’m reaching for your hand, Jesus.
If you are struggling with anxious thoughts, your Savior sees you. The fact that you struggle with anxious thoughts doesn’t push Him away. There’s an invitation waiting – just for you. Listen to it, and allow it to redirect your thoughts, your day, and even your life.
Don’t beat yourself up, sis, with those anxious thoughts. We’ve got this.
Grab that invitation, and see where it leads you as you follow Jesus.
~Written by Suzie Eller, Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker & Author
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Suzanne Eller (Suzie) has served Proverbs 31 Ministries for 10 years. She’s an author, international speaker and Bible teacher, top 100 Christian women’s blogger, and popular media guest. She loves nothing more than watching God work in the heart of a woman.
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Thank you so much this is exactly what i needed this Monday morning.
Anxious thoughts, wrong thoughts, incorrect assumptions, they all can be my biggest problem or I should say they make the smallest problems bigger. Take your thoughts captive and give them to the Lord. Don’t let them rule your life. This devotion captures it perfectly.
Thanks for your comment. I’m the same way – negative thoughts, getting caught up with what others are saying, etc. I need to be more positive and give everything to the Lord.
Amen….I agree! We can not allow anxious thoughts to bombard our lives. God is in control…..release then relax!
Yes, I also needed this ….my thoughts were tormenting me last week because of very disappointing news. I cannot control the situation or the circumstance, so I needed to hand it over to God as well as my fear and anxiety.
Father, today we stand shoulder to shoulder with Kalyani. We hold her up to you. We circle around her in prayer. We thank you that you are still sovereign when disappointing news comes our way. Pour out peace over Kalyani today and tomorrow. Thank you for wisdom to know how to take the next step. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I struggle with anxious thoughts but I always want to be in control.
I need to put God in control of my life.
This is my first message I truly look forward to hearing every day, as others share.
Love this . Guys I am on day 23 of my come with me Devo journey and it has rocked my world in the best ways . Every morning Jesus is using this tool as I dive into His word to say , come with me !
Thanks, Jenn!
Timely words on a subject that I struggle with daily! I’m so thankful that Jesus loves me despite my anxious thoughts. Thank You Lord for this reminder today. Thank You for Your unfailing love. ❤️ And thank you Suzie for letting God lead you and sharing your heart.
I struggle with anxious thoughts, I am trying to turn to God as i read the devotional daily. taking in the words you are telling me, Tracie, but also taking in what God is telling me to do daily.
this was a great message this morning,
this is sooo important to control for. I think sometimes I even catch myself in the midst of anxious thoughts that my mind is spinning while I thought I was having a good day or going through a good season. How volatile our peace of mind can be- but I am thankful that every time we can run to God to reset our ”peace” 🙂 . Beautiful devotional too by the way!
Will I be safe in an area where I was hurt as a child and where I was hurt as an adult and struggle to see where God was in either. The wounding was by the same version of sin and betrayal by others choices.
Dawnielle, I was also hurt as a child and later as an adult. Maybe not in the same way. Being healed doesn’t mean that we make ourselves open to hurtful people, but that we don’t embrace their words or actions as our truth or our identity.
My friend, Holley Gerth, describes it like this. Instead of a wall, we have a fence. We let people in, but we have the power to gently shut the door to those who walk in with the purpose of hurting. We set boundaries to keep them at a safe distance, but we never, ever wall ourselves in again.
Praying with you that you live free, sister. Your comment is courageous and honest.
Praying for you. ❤
Wow! That’s an awesome devotion.
My anxious thought(s) concern our son, who knows Jesus but is not walking with Him. I recently heard teaching that says the one who has denied Jesus after being saved is going to Hades – oh, boy, did that create some anxious thoughts!
Wonderful.
I have anxious and worrisome thoughts about situations completely out of my control.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Many anxious thoughts have been running in my mind. For the last year, I’ve experienced many set backs with my health. I’ve had 5 surgeries since last November and everything is taking its toll. I continue to Praise God through the storms.
My husband passed away 2 1/2 years ago and I am trying to keep the promises I made him when he asked me to continue to keep on living,. But some days are very hard to remember that and want to crawl in a hole and close out the world. But I also remember the promise I made him to keep the congregation together as he was our pastor and asked me to keep them together. Some days are worse than others but my memory seems to be gone some days. I have retired now so I am praying for going forward to keep the promises even if I am tired.
I am sorry for your tremendous loss. May God’s love and light surround you. May the Holy Spirit comfort you and allow you to connect with your husband and talk to him and feel him beside you always. God is with you, and so is your husband. They will guide you. God bless you. -Heather
My anxious thoughts center around trust issues and feelings of rejection. I need to continue to turn to, and rely on, the one that I know is completely trust worthy….God.
I am learning to surrender each family member over to Jesus. Betrayal and addictions have inflicted themselves. My anxious thoughts of realizing I am not on control of what my spouse chooses to do or my children. Our family has been torn apart. Repentance on spouse part, but worry of healing is anxious
Lately I have been having anxious thoughts about my relationship & where it’s at…moving forward. Not good enough to marry. Rejected feelings & thoughts
For the past year I have had one health issue after another. I have tried to not be anxious or worry and give it to God. I feel alone fighting this battle and keep going through the words talking to God but I just don’t feel that connection. I want to feel that I have given my worries to him, but I wake up tomorrow saying today is a new day. Thank you God . And before the day is over the anxious feelings are back again. I need prayers to help me be strong and put my trust in Jesus . Thank you for your words of inspiration.
I very much can relate to how you’re feeling especially with health issues. Please know you are not alone!! I know it sure feels that way and sometimes it does feel like God isn’t there, but I promise you He is. I was feeling this way recently and God put a movie in front of me called Do You Believe? And it really helped me remember that even if we don’t feel God’s Presence or see His answers to a prayer, that He indeed is there, watching, and making a path clear for us, for good and not evil. I will be praying for you, for God to give you peace, for His Presence to be felt above all else and that He would heal your whole body. In Jesus’s Name Amen!
Thank you SO much for this!! It came at just the right time. I’ve been struggling with anxious thoughts a lot lately. My friend’s funeral was this weekend and I’m grieving. I’m fighting my body that’s fighting me. I have a consult for a surgery tomorrow, my husband and I are both chronically ill and feeling awful, and we are fighting for his disability. There’s so much going on and like you, I am on the support groups, I am listening to the drs, listening to family and friends, but am I following God?
I know that answer is a no. I know He wants me to come to Him and lay every anxious thought at His feet, every burden down, so that He can give me rest. I needed to read this to remind myself of those things. Sometimes I think life just gets so overwhelming and the anxious thoughts too loud to remember these things, so thank you so much!!
And I pray that God would guide you and give you peace in your situation and provide everything you and your loved ones need. In Jesus’s Name Amen!!
I enjoyed your post! And Hoping to win your book as it sounds great.
This was so good . With all the things happening in the world today it definitely opens the door for anxious thoughts. Something I really need to work on that. My worrying so much when my son goes out the door. And so many times I know I need to trust the Lord and I give way to anxiety because it’s hard to wait. And God loves it when we trust him and we learn to wait on him he said no good thing will he withhold from us. I think the thing that gives me the most anxiety is fearing what God will allow in my life but I know I have to give him that also. God always knows what he’s doing. I just think we forget how much God loves us and wants to help us.
Glad to know I am not the only one wrestling with this!
I am anxious about so many things this morning, I really needed this word! My mom, who is ill, my job, my own health, my family. I try to let go and give these anxieties to God, but it is a constant struggle that some days seems to be a losing one. Thank you for your post. It’s when I see words like yours on days like today that I see Jesus and hope!
I need to stop being anxious about my lack of transportation. My medical care has been badly neglected for a little more than a year because I haven’t been able to see my doctors due to lack of transportation. It has been a struggle….a hard long struggle! But God is answering my prayer and I now have transportation to my doctors. It will take some time but thanks to our Father and God in the Name of Jesus Christmas I have a van & driver that takes me to my doctors. I STILL HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TRANSPORTATION ANYWHERE ELSE. I HAVE NO WAY TO GET GROCERIES, MEDICINE,SUPPLIES & I desperately need a ride to another town to go to SSI appt. to get them to return large sums of $ they have taken out of my check. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO GET THERE BUT GOD WILL MAKE A WAY! I believe Lord help my unbelief. They said I would die BUT GOD BROUGHT ME UP OUT OF THERE & I AM 7 YEAR CANCER SURVIVOR,!!
Thank you for helping me see Jesus in the midst of anxiety. I am in a season where I find myself in the valley fighting the soul crushing battle of loss. As I diligently seek the Lord I’m finding myself right in the center of self condemnation. I can’t seem to find the deep meaning of living in freedom of who I am in Christ….most days I just simply feel unworthy. I can’t seem to see myself through His eyes. Maybe it’s because of a parentless life, I’m not sure. But I do know one thing….my heart desires to grow, learn, and overcome so quitting my journey is not an option. In the still quiet mornings I find Him and His beautiful truth that fills my empty soul with comfort. Thank you for being His messenger. It brought hope to my broken spirit today.
There are actually 2 things, rejection & finances. The devil is attacking me real hard in both these areas
October, for some reason, Satan has come against my mind from every angle and I am feeling defeated. Please pray for me. Thank you.
There’s a reason my nickname from my grandma growing up was “worry wart.” I still struggle to turn my worry over to God and to trust in Him instead. My husband is undergoing a cancer screening today that I’m trying hard not to worry about but it’s not easy. And my debilitating chronic illness often has me wondering if I’ll ever be healed in this life. But this too I trust to God when I feel worry rising because I know worry is the opposite of trust.
A healing over my body❤️ I surrender and give it to him❤️
Have multiple, daily migraines and fear grabs me when feel I can’t handle anymore intense pain. Can last 10 hours or more.
My anxious thoughts have centered on health and even my children. Knowing I can’t always be with them and scared I may not be there at a time they really need me. This world is so scary to be raising kids in now. And at 39 I’ve had 2 EKG show abnormal so I’m being scheduled for a stress test. This was discovered as pre-op for a hysterectomy. So as I recover from that I worry what will happen if my health doesn’t allow me to be here for my kids. Such a scary, heart breaking thought.
I’ve been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for well over a year now. I have five children, and I pray for all of them. However, one daughter has gotten involved in drugs and it has become a nightmare. I beg Jesus to save her, but it’s been a long, slow year to answered prayer. I often forget to pray for my anxious thoughts though.
Lord, I stand with Kay today and hold up this daughter to you. You see her. You have marked her with your love. Compel her to come to you. Free her from the stronghold that the enemy has dangled as “good” and lead her to freedom and new life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You’ve given me inspiring thoughts that bring comfort and cheer. I need to turn my heart to the Lord when anxious thoughts storm into my life. Thank for the encouragement and wisdom to seek the Lord to enlighten my path each day.
Thank you for this. Last Monday, after more than 29 years, I lost my job due to downsizing. But I know God is in control and I pray for His touch on the life of each woman who commented in this blog. God is good!
My anxious thoughts are due to a long waiting season. However, I am determined to hold onto God’s truths and promises. I am trying to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. During this time in my life, I know that God is building my foundation stronger and will use this season for his glory. ~Lisa~
Thank you for I so very much needed this today! My youngest daughter has recently moved in with her dad to attend college and she since met a new man and gotten 3 tattoos. (Not judging anyone…seriously not!) This just doesn’t seem like my daughter. She doesn’t want to come home and see me to often and gets upset when I try and talk to her about anything. My anxious thoughts are everywhere!! I tend to forget that our Lord is near me and her too. I must simply lift her up to Him and trust that He will take care of her. One day at a time….????
Thank you for sharing this powerful and real testimony, I’m going through a similar situation. I give it to Jesus then take it back. I need peace in this storm. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this devotion and the peace that came over me as I prayed “Jesus, help me”…….. all the other times I’ve prayed this, I took it back and didn’t take His hand, so my thoughts remained anxious. He knows all my struggles and is waiting for me to take His hand to guide me.
I needed this now!! Such a timely and wonderful message!!
I was diagnosed with anxiety (General anxiety disorder and agoraphobia), so it a daily struggle not to give in the anxious thoughts and feelings. One area of my life I am working on is my health/losing weight. I need to focus on small steps and small victories instead of becoming anxious about the time it is taking and what others think.
Fear/anxiety thought I need to give to God is praying in public.thank u for giving us a chance to win.
Tracie, It felt so good to see your post on anxious thoughts. I know when my heart starts to palpitate, anxious thoughts starts creeping in. When i see a bill being placed on the table, knowing the resources are not there to take care of it, the pounding of my heart starts to rumble. When my husband and I begin to disagree, anxious feelings kicks in. I would like to indicate through these anxious moments in my life, my precious Father always reminds me, he has made me more than a conqueror and he will quieten my rattling heart. There is only one more thing that my heart stays so rattled and torn over is my son. I stay emotional and so exhausted from wondering and pondering if my son will make it through the dark path he has chosen. There’s been moments that my heart felt like it was going to burst but my Father tells me, to lean in, and just trust him. He has not ever forsaken me!
Thank you Thank you for this practical way to use anxiety to grow closer to Jesus. I have dealt with anxiety all my life. It stems from not feeling good enough. Suffice it to say, I grew up in a family that I never fit it into, you could say I am the black sheep. I’ve heard, since becoming a practicing Christian in 2009, that God Loves each of us as we are, perfectly imperfect, as He created us to be. I’ve tried to believe it while still trying so hard to fit in. I have recently discovered that wasn’t God’s plan. That He didn’t create me to fit in, He created me to make a wee bit of room, so He can shine His Love through me. He created me to challenge the status quo when it’s failing us (only cheering for the front runners in a race and chastising the caboose. I have more respect for the runners who are running their own race, at their own pace and still finish their 2 miles with no one running around them to push them on, no one cheering them on, with only their grit to never give up. They are champions to me! It’s easy to push yourself when you have a competitor to compete with. It takes true strength of character to push your body like that all on your own.) Right now, God is working on me big time. He is putting it on my heart to get out of His way with my son, who just started middle school, with so many new responsibilities and pressure. In the past, I have done all the organizing for him. This year, God told me to back of and encourage him. It took a bit of shaking up for me to get it. I have to say, it has been amazing. God is speaking right to my son’s heart, directing him, encouraging him and providing for all his needs. God has called me to let my son do things I wasn’t ready for and again, it has been amazing. God is showing me He has my son in His hands, He is my son’s protector, advisor and provider. Actually, God is showing me he has my 4th grade daughter in His hands as well. It is amazing!!! I have been stuck for years, not knowing where God wants me. I try to be patient, but I feel called to action and I don’t know where. I have long conversations with people hoping God will let me at least shine His Love on them. I have been an at home mom and I feel it’s time to enter the workforce again. I keep getting pulled in many distracting directions, not knowing where God wants me. I know He is refining me and using my circumstances for His Glory and my good, so that I may live the purpose He planned for my life. I just don’t know what my next step is. I keep praying on it. I try to help others while I’m waiting. But I’m feeling useless. My anxious thoughts are that I’m wasting this amazing life God created me for, that I’m missing the purpose I am to serve. Yet, I love my messy beautiful life. And if my purpose is to raise up my son and daughter right, so they may become all God created them to be, I will be more than satisfied with that as my legacy.
This blog comes in a perfect moment for me! In the last 2 days as I was traveling 1100 miles across the country, with my dog who was so sick and trying to get home to my mama who was in and out of the hospital the last three days, I felt overwhelmed with anxiety and at times panic as my helplessness settled in. Again and again as the fear and worry would take hold in my heart, mile after mile, the only thing I could do, the only thing I wasn’t helpless to do, was to remember to pray and turn to God. I had to be intentional a thousand times and more over the miles as as my fears would creep in and then I would remember again to talk to God.
I’m in my mid 50’s, single, have raised 4 children and am now an empty nester with a decent paying job. I am at a time in my life many women wait to arrive at but I keep thinking “now what?” I could do anything or be anywhere I want to be and as crazy as it sounds, this makes me anxious!
Thank you for this today…..Anxious thoughts when I don’t hear from our children❤❤❤❤
I am grateful for todays Devotion! I wrestle with anxious thoughts about my adult son’s and their lives. One has been sick and is still living at home. Has zero friends, health issues make it hard for him to hold a job, isolation is an issue, some oppression and is struggling in his walk with Christ. (Praying for my youngest son)
Then there is my oldest prodigal son who married a non believer (praying for my oldest son and my daughter in law) and over the last several years he has walked away from his faith, now they have their first child on the way. There marriage is not overly healthy, in fact they may be divorcing, my heart aches knowing they have their first child on the way.
Then theres my health, havent been able to work because of my own health issues.
Finances are not good… My husbands career is struggling- not much work coming his way, this is very hard on my man.
My marriage has its own struggles, but we are okay, married 30 years and Christ is the center of us two- Just alot of stress which makes us anxious.
I take all of my cares and concerns and I lift them before His Throne of Grace.
I do trust the Lord. But I’d be lying if I said I dont become anxious or sometimes even panicky.
Trials and tribulations can be hard but I know the One who loves me and my Family… so I commit my Family and into the Lord’s loving able hands. He knows… He is with me and my family… He’s got this!!
Blessings to you all!
Denise ????
I am always anxious about my marriage. I struggle with “am not enough and he’ll leave me” even though we’ve been together almost 20 years and have 3 beautiful kids.
Thank you so much. I so needed this right now. God bless you Tracie.
I have always had fear of the future I whenever I get up to do something all I think about is what if I fail? What if it doesn’t turn out right? What if something goes wrong? What if this or that? Now I know better. Jesus has already taken care of it all. Thank you for imparting this wisdom to me in this piece. Thanks a lot.
This popped up in my e-mail today. Just what I needed today. I’m feeling anxious about a family members troubles. She seems down everyday and there’s nothing I can do to help he. I’ve been praying to God a lot lately.