Tips to Living a Worry-Free Life

Hey, ladies! So lately I've been struggling with stress and overthinking, and I'm sure most of you can identify with this. God calls us to live our lives with our eyes focused on Him, and we cannot do that if we are constantly concerning ourselves with earthly worries. The following tips are ones that I have learned through my own experience, and what God has shown me in His Word.

1. Change your thinking

As human beings (and as females), when something bad happens, we tend to dwell on it for an extended amount of time and allow it to drag us down into a place where we definitely don't need to be. If someone wrongs us, or something doesn't work out the way we want, our human nature likes to take over, thus overriding our knowledge of the character of God. If we simply just remember that our Heavenly Father has everything under control and will take care of us, these negative thoughts will disappear entirely. As it says in Matthew 6:33, if we look to Him first, everything else will fall into place according to His will.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

-Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

In order to truly let God guide us, we have to willingly surrender to Him and His will for our lives. Let God take away your worries, and then work wonders in you and through you.

2. Don't be afraid to talk to your Heavenly Father

Pray often! God loves to hear from his children, especially about issues they're struggling with, even though He already knows our every thought. And trust me, He is listening. Even when it feels like you aren't getting a response from Him or like He isn't hearing you, He is there and He will reveal His answer to you in His perfect timing. In Jeremiah 3:33, God tells us that we can call out to Him for help in our troubles and He will answer us.

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

-Jeremiah 3:33 (ESV)

He also calls us to "pray without ceasing" in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. So what do you do when you don't know what to do? Pray! Bring your worries, fears, and doubts before God, and seek to have a genuine conversation with Him daily!

3. When your back is against a wall, don't give up

When there's nothing else to do and we've run out of options, our first instinct is to throw in the towel and give up. When our worries are eating us alive, and it seems that we haven't heard the Lord's voice in quite a while, it's easy to give up. It's definitely a whole lot easier than standing up and fighting back when the devil has got us down, ready to call it and be done. But dear sisters, be reminded that we have the best fighter in our corner, someone who always has our back: God. We have an almighty God, the one true King, and our Father, who is constantly ready to throw His strongest punches to defend His beloved daughters. Be reminded too that we have to start each day by putting on the full "armor of God" in order to defend ourselves against the devil.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"

-Ephesians 6: 10-18 (ESV)

Sisters, do not blame God or even yourself for any situation that you are currently facing. And certainly do not give in to your human desires to just give up. We are so much stronger than that. God has equipped us with strengths that we didn't even know we had, and when you feel like that strength is failing and you're growing weak, simply lean on your loving Father and remember that He is our only true source of happiness and satisfaction.

I will leave you with one final word of encouragement: God is in you. He desires to do a mighty work in you, if you only surrender your life to Him and let Him mold you into the beautiful godly woman He has designed you to be. God revealed a verse to me today that further solidifies my point.

"God is in the midst of her. She will not be moved."

Psalm 46:5 (ESV)

With God in us, we have the power to move mountains, if we only take His hand and let Him help us move them. God wants to help us become the godly women that He designed us to be before we were even a thought in our earthly parents' minds. He has many great things in store for you, so give up all your worries and latch on to the one who can erase them for good. Our Father loves us, and calls us to do great and radical things for His Kingdom, so let Him accomplish those things in you by leading a worry-free, Christ-centered life.

With love, Em