Don't You Worry Devotional by Toni LaShaunSample

The Sneak Attack

Worry creeps into your mind

Like a thief in the night

Worry always feels like a sneak attack to me. Can anyone else relate? You're going through life, doing just fine, and something happens that is not what you anticipated. It could be something big like job loss or major illness. It could be something small like losing your keys or canceled plans. Sometimes, and maybe, for many people, most times, you handle it well. Sure, you may panic a little at first, but then you pray, and then there's peace. (Psalm 29:11)

That is the best-case scenario. but don't you wish panic was not the first response? For me, it seems like any time something out of the ordinary comes up, my mind automatically jumps to analyzing every possible worst scenario. Then, those scenarios play over and over again in my mind on a loop until the situation seems hopeless. Does that ever happen to you?

I've come to realize that part of this can be due to a chemical imbalance, but mostly, it's due to a spiritual imbalance. When I give in to the panic, it's because I have a misperception that I am somehow in control of all of my circumstances; treating myself like a little god, as if I have to have or know the answers. I'm not minimizing the physiological aspect. I've done therapy and medication. But, even those treatments were not effective when my spiritual life was out of whack.

Worrying about problems has never once resolved them. Not. One. Time. Admittedly, it just gives us something to do and, sometimes, gets us attention from other people. The more we feed anxiety, the bigger it grows. But, it really is useless.

Like Jesus said, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?" Luke 12:25-26 NLT

So, the best way to stop the sneak attack of anxiety and not let worry win is to surrender to God's Will. This doesn't mean you are not responsible for your actions, mistakes, or choices that lead to worrisome circumstances, it means you take a realistic look at what you actually have any control over. Once we admit that only God is fully in control, we can submit to His Plan.

There's no need to stress about what God's already got worked out. God knows exactly what you are going through (keyword: through), exactly when He will get you through, exactly how He will guide you through, and exactly where you will grow while you go through (Romans 5:3-5).

Heavenly Father, when worry, fear and anxiety try to attack us and steal our joy and peace, please remind us that You are in control. Please guide us with Your Truth and drown out the lies that worry whispers. Help us to surrender to Your Will in every situation, knowing that You have every answer we need. Thank You for getting us through. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen!