Written By: Tayler Cathrine
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything be in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Anxiety and fear are running rampant right now. God knew that we would struggle with this, so He gave us tools and showed us what would to do. BE IN PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING!! The most significant part of this is to let go of those thoughts and emotions. How do we do that in prayer and shift our mindset and focus on the goodness around us? I was recently struggling with how to pay three unexpected huge bills. My husband has been out of work since the beginning of COVID, and it can be scary. God has been providing in ways that I didn’t expect, but in ways that have kept us provided for. We have been given meals and even had strangers pay for our bill at a gas station. These are God’s reminders to me not to worry, just as the birds don’t worry.
Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)
We must understand and know our value. God provides for the birds, AND He shares how much more valuable we are! What does worrying do for us? It’s definitely not adding to our time. If anything, it is stealing our time and our joy. If I worry and go over the many scenarios that can happen, or all the change with military life, or COVID, I would constantly be tired, worn out, and honestly depressed. Instead, I live life to the fullest. Right now, there are many things that are up in the air, but I stay steady in the home, prayer, and my walk. Until I have the final information, I don’t worry about the 8,000 possibilities.
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:28-34)
These words could not be any truer. Each day has enough going on, that we do not need to worry about tomorrow. I do make plans, but I do not worry. When the anxiousness, fear, worry, or doubt creep in, I have to take a serious look at what I am doing. Did I pick the issue back up and start wheeling about all the scenarios? Have I been in God’s truth and wisdom? Have I been feeding my mind truth from the Lord or man’s word (i.e., news, friends, family, etc.)? It’s not always easy to evaluate ourselves, but it is a must in spiritual maturity.
I’m going to leave you with this scripture:
Trials and Temptations
“…consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
JOY?!? I know it sounds crazy, but I want you to think of something hard and difficult that you came through. Did you grow? Do you have more patience? Wisdom? Stronger faith?
When I moved across the country 36 weeks pregnant with a 1-year-old and a husband about to go on his first deployment, it was scary and unknown. Once I got through it, I knew I could do it again and that I was strong enough to hold down the house because I was faithful in prayer. When my marriage crumbled, I clung to God and cried out every second to get through it. It didn’t break me, and the roots of my faith only grew stronger to withstand the next storm. I’m not saying it was easy because there were times the heartache was intense, and I thought I would never know joy again, but I continued to pray for mercies, peace, restoration, and so much more.
I am proud of what God has got me through. I want to shout out His goodness because He has brought me through many valleys. Having a baby during COVID and the loss of a job is just our new valley, and God is using it to mold and strengthen our faith. I can’t wait to shout out more joy and faithfulness that God will bring.
Check out this video, where I am real and honest about these fears and how I get through them with GOD.
Written By: Tayler Cathrine
