Giving God Your Worries

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest."  (Psalm 22:1-2)

Have you ever said that to God? Or felt so alone and troubled? Me too. One night, almost 20 years ago, stands out in my memory as a night that I felt such anguish.  It was a turning point in my relationship with God when I finally learned to delegate the most important thing in my life.

People say, "Turn your worries over to God." Well, that sounds like a real good idea, but how? I struggled with that question for many years. It was definitely easier said than done.

"Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7

This is one of my earliest favorite verses. Although I had faith in God, and had trusted Him completely for years, I tried, but somehow, I couldn't just turn things over and quit worrying, even though I really wanted to. God had done some amazing things in my past and I had no doubt He COULD take my cares away. Though thankful for past gifts, I still worried.

Then came "that night" I finally allowed God to take care of things completely. This was about a year after my lupus diagnosis. Even though not nearly as serious then, I worried about the future. I'd handled all I could on my own and was very upset.  Doctors had given me a grim prognosis and my children were still young. It was possible I wouldn't live to see them graduate from high school.

As I cried.my anguished prayers did not have words, yet God heard, and answered.  I finally told God I couldn't handle it, and asked for help coping with it. I told Him how agonized I was at leaving my children, worried I wouldn't be able to live long enough to raise them. 

There was an amazing, almost instant, sense of peace! Since then, I've kept this peace and the fear is gone. Somehow I just knew that it would be okay - I didn't know how, but just knew it would work out. There have been scary moments, and plenty of tears, but now, even though it's definitely more serious, I never feel as anxious as before. No matter how many worries I have about it, there's an internal peace that keeps me sane. God is handling it. I can be concerned, but I know that ultimately, no matter what, it's going to be just fine.  

Everyone worries. I hope you turn your cares over to God easier than I did. Worry wears you down and takes away your peace. I can promise you that if you turn it over to God, you can cope with anything.

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