Travel LightSýnishorn

Letting Go of Worry and Regrets

Hey, there. Don’t worry about it. Whatever it is, don’t worry. 

Easy for you to say, you’re thinking.

Actually, it’s not easy. I deal with anxiety and OCD daily. Even on my best days I’m still aware it’s there, in the back of my mind, threatening to shut me down. The good news, though, is that’s not the end of the story. 

God didn’t create us to live in fear. I’m not saying there’s nothing scary in this life. I’m not saying I never worry about the potential for unfixable relationships, financial ruin, missed opportunities, or plenty of other heavy stuff. But that fear, when carried, grows into constant worry about the future which often leads to decisions that create regret about the past.

I’ve discovered that letting go of worry also works for living free of regret. 

Here’s the key: God didn’t give us the muscles to carry worry and regret, but He lovingly gave us permission to look up to Him and say, “Can you carry this?” His answer is always, “Gladly. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.” Then we open up our hands and let go, over, and over, and over. 

Also, can we just acknowledge that we’re going to make mistakes? Bad things will happen. Still, God’s love beats fear. 

1. God’s not sitting somewhere trying to decide how to mess up your life. It’s the opposite, actually, because He loves you. 

2. When bad things happen, God is the best at using them to shape you into something better than before. Because He loves you.

When you have that sense of dread, like bad things are on the horizon, or maybe they’re already here and your first instinct is to stop, drop, and worry—don’t. Instead, exercise the muscles God did give you and reach out to Him through prayer, reading Scripture, and honest conversation with trusted people.  

Try this: Pray out loud to God. Tell Him exactly what you’re regretting or worried about. Tell God you’re trusting Him with it. Then, remind yourself of some truth about who God is and who He’s made you to be. 

Tommy, not defined by anxiety