I woke up one recent morning with this thought: no longer stressing.

Memory of a dream had faded and left me feeling stressed. By the time my eyes opened, this idea had planted itself firmly in my thinking: no longer stressing.

I wondered what that decision would mean for my life today.

No more worries about that book proposal under a publisher’s consideration. I’m confident God is in this project—the passion of my heart—and he will see it through, in his time. If that doesn’t happen, I’ve given my best. He’s in charge.

No more worries about seizing every opportunity to put myself out there for the publishing world. God’s pulled off some pretty amazing stuff without a FaceBook following of 10,000.

No more worries about personal stuff—a body that resists staying the same size and a house that has an ongoing relationship with clutter. Determined to eat within reason, clean house within reason, enjoy family and friends, and watch the bluebirds settle into their house for an early spring nesting.

No more worries about circumstances I cannot change.

I’m surrendering all to Jesus. He’s able to do something. I am not.

No more worries about what the future may bring. My times are in God’s hands, and his grace is sufficient. Always has been. Always will be.

No more worries. No longer stressing. Pondering what Jesus said.

“…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of air for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?…But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:25-33).

God’s part is to take care of me. My part is to let him.

Got it. No more worries. No longer stressing.

Could that be as easy as simply making up my mind? Yes!

Where do worry and stress begin? In the mind! Triggered by what’s happening in my outer world, my inner world takes over, hunkering down on worry and stress.

Much of my outer world is beyond my control. But my inner world…I can do something about that!

When circumstances clamor for attention (worry and stress), I can choose to apply Isaiah 26:3-4. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Simple. Keeping my mind stayed on the Lord, trusting him, source of everlasting strength. No more worries. No longer stressing.

If I can just remember that when I wake up tomorrow!

Please tell me how trusting God has helped you overcome worry and stress! And I’d be so grateful if you’d share this article with your friends!

© Dianne Barker 2019