THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and more.
A QUARTERLY COLLECTIBLE | Heart & Home Inspiration
THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
0

Reflecting on the Good: An Antidote to Worry

  • Angie Gibbons
  • April 29, 2022
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Have you experienced worry this week?

It’s safe to assume that a newspaper, friend, family member, or job situation has given you good cause. We all worry at times. We worry because we care deeply.

We were made to be creative people who can solve problems. Unfortunately, there are many things we cannot fix. We feel incredibly small in the face of the bigger challenges of our lives.

When we aren’t sure what to do, we think. Then we try to stop thinking so we can sleep or rest or accomplish something meaningful.

How successful have you been at stopping thoughts with sheer will power? I am 0 for 1 million attempts.

We might as well try to stop the sun from rising. Those thoughts will dig in deep and sprout wildly in all directions.

But I have learned a simple approach that has brought me relief. It comes from Matthew 6. In this passage we are instructed to not be anxious, but we are also given a recipe for moving out of anxious places.

We are told to look up at the birds of the air because God is taking care of them. We are told to consider the lilies in the fields because God provides for all their needs. He is the Fixer for all of Creation.

He is telling us to not look upon our problems and the things we cannot do. Instead, we are to look to Him and the things that He can. See what He’s already done. See how He moves intentionally throughout His world. See the order of His creation when our lives feel disordered.

Instead of trying to stop the worried thoughts, we can reflect on the good we see around us.

What is your life’s equivalent of “birds of the air” and “lilies of the field?” Maybe today you can look upon the walls of your home and consider how safe they make you feel. Maybe you can look up to a sunny day that allows you to take a refreshing walk. Maybe you can observe a good friendship in your life that encourages you.

When worries creep in and try to take over your thought life, stop and consider what God has done and continues to do, and allow the worrying to subside in the presence of His goodness and truth.

1
0
0
0
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Angie Gibbons

Angie’s great passion is to plant seeds of hope for women who feel stuck, disempowered, or fearful—that they really can live freely and at rest. She loves storytelling, speaking for women’s events, and writing for both her blog and popular Christian publications. Angie is a wife and bio/adoptive mom to three girls. You can find her surfing and hiking with her family in Hawaii, and you can read her latest tips on living fearless on Facebook or Instagram.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRENDING POSTS
  • Good manners 1
    We Don’t Talk That Way in Our House: Teaching Kids Good Manners
  • How do i forgive myself 2
    How Do I Forgive Myself for My Mistakes in Parenting in Light of Grace?
  • Personal bible study 3
    How to Transform Your Personal Bible Study Time With An Easy Perspective Shift
  • Valentine’s day with kids 4
    6 Unique Ideas for Celebrating Valentine’s Day With Kids
  • Prayers for a broken marriage 5
    5 Prayers for a Broken Marriage: Praying Scripture For a Hurting Heart
RSS Daily Devotions
  • Find Your Way Free March 23, 2023
  • Seeing Your Samaria March 22, 2023
  • One Day, It Will Be March 21, 2023
  • Called Beyond My Ability March 20, 2023
  • Looking in the Right Place March 17, 2023
VISIT OUR SHOP
  • Everyday Joy | Volumes 1 & 2 Bundle
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $45.00
  • Issue 15 | ADVENTURE — Digital Version $14.00
  • Issue 13 | ADORE — Digital Version $14.00
The Secret Society of Salzburg Book Cover
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and exclusive offers for our subscribers.
Follow Us on Instagram

AMAZON AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLAIMER | The Joyful Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Every purchase you make through our Amazon affiliate links supports our ministry at no additional cost to you.

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • WRITE FOR US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • ACCOUNT
  • Contact
© 2022 The Joyful Life Co., LLC

Input your search keywords and press Enter.