Friend, we face troubles of many kinds in this life. Maybe you are facing some right now.
What if we chose to look at our troubles from a different perspective?
What if, instead of letting worry, doubt or fear overcome us,
we instead looked at our situation as an opportunity to remind ourselves
of who our God really is (through prayer and meditating on God's Word).
We might not consciously realize this, but, many of our worries might come from us doubting some aspect of God's character.
If that is the case, first, we must find out (through the help of the Holy Spirit and prayer) what aspect of God's character we are doubting.
Next, we must attack these doubts head on by filling our mind with God's word and the truth of that aspect of God's character and declaring it powerfully in prayer.
All over the Bible, God has revealed to us who He is.
Let us hold onto the truth and not let ourselves be deceived even a little.
What Are Our Worries Rooted In
Let us first start by prayerfully considering the exact thoughts that keep plaguing us.
Let us ask God to help show us what our worries means in relationship to Him.
It is important to remember that we cannot figure this out on our own,
we need to go to Him in prayer and ask Him to help us.
He loves us and will help.
For example:
If I am feeling helpless about a situation, I might be doubting God's sovereignty and control.
If I am feeling hopeless about something, I might be doubting God's good plans for my life.
If I am filled with fear and dread about a potential future outcome, I might be doubting God's love for me and doubting that He will only allow into my life those things that are (in the eternal perspective) best for me.
All of these thoughts, and the exact fears that the thoughts are rooted in,
all vary from person to person and situation to situation.
Only God, through the Holy Spirit, can show us what we need to be seeing
since He is the only one who knows exactly what is going on deep in our hearts.
Friend, let us take our fears to Him and pray and ask Him to reveal to us what we need to see. Is our specific fear rooted in our doubt of some specific character of who our God is?
As we walk through dark valleys, let us not allow the devil to deceive us of who our God is.
Uproot The Worry: Replace Our Fears With Remembering The Truth of Who Our God Is
Next, as God gives us understanding as to what our fears might be rooted in,
let us then start to look at these fears and our troubling situation with a different lens.
Let us use this as an opportunity to remind ourselves of who our God really is.
Let us look at our troubles as an opportunity to grow closer to our God.
An opportunity to trust Him more.
An opportunity to know Him more.
An opportunity for Him to reveal even more of Himself to us.
An opportunity to remind ourselves of everything that is true of Him
and by doing that, growing closer to Him, our Father.
Let us immerse ourselves in His Word and through prayer ask our God to help transfer our gaze from the dark ominous clouds looming ahead and instead fix our eyes on Jesus - the only one who can help us. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Let us use this opportunity to remember everything about our Father.
Let us not forget His character.
Let us keep praying and reminding ourselves of who He really is.
Who is Our God?
So, who is our God? What are a few of His characteristics?
Click on each item below to expand and view a list of supporting
Bible verses under each listed characteristic to encourage us and help us as we pray.
Our God is all powerful and completely in control of everything.
Colossians 1:16
"for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him."
Job 42:2
"I know, Lord, that you are all-powerful;
that you can do everything you want."
Isaiah 14:24
"The Lord Almighty has sworn an oath:
“What I have planned will happen.
What I have determined to do will be done."
Our God is good.
Our God is faithful.
Our God loves us and cares for us.
Our God wants what is eternally best for us. He is a God of details and planning. Everything He does has a good eternal purpose.
Our God is merciful and gracious.
Our God is just.
Our God never changes.
Friend, I don't know what you are facing and going through today.
I am so sorry for what you are walking through.
But one thing I know and I will loudly declare with you - our God is an amazing God.
A God of wonders.
The Great I Am.
The next time we face something that causes us to worry, let us immediately start praying and loudly declaring the truth of who our God is.
Friend, keep trusting in Him.
I know some days it can be so hard.
But those are the days we need to cling to Him even tighter.
He loves us.
He knows what we are going through.
He's right beside us, watching over us.
He has a good plan for us.
Let us keep trusting in Him.
Praising Him for who He is and all that He has done.
Let us remember His faithfulness and goodness.
And as we do this, let us watch in amazement as our God washes away our fears and covers us with His peace and unexplainable joy even in the midst of unimaginable sorrow and troubles.
Isaiah 41:10
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Friend, keep praying these truths.
Keep trusting Him.
He loves you.
He is in control.
And He is good.
Forever and ever unchanging, He is our great God.
Let us end with (please find below) a Psalm that reminds us of WHO our God is and below that, a song of worship that will encourage us.
Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.