A few days ago, I was sitting in a hotel lobby waiting to check-in (which was taking longer than I had anticipated by a couple hours. What started out as a minor inconvenience quickly escalated to intense feelings of worry. I knew everything would get sorted, and that even if it wasn’t, I could find somewhere else to stay. And I knew I could be flexible with my plans for the rest of the day if it continued to take more time to resolve.
Logically, I knew it was fine, but mentally and emotionally, I was a ball of stress.
The next day, at breakfast (at the lovely resort that I eventually did get checked-in to), I reflected on how much time and energy I had wasted on worry the day before. After some prayer, I realized that the anxiety I felt that had almost reduced me to tears less than 24 hours ago, wasn’t just about my hotel reservation, it was about work deadlines, catastrophic fires in Southern California I was hearing about on the news, politics, health issues loved ones are facing, being away from my little girl for a few days due to travel, emails I was behind on and a whole lot of other things.
It’s wild how worries can accumulate over time! It’s not usually one anxious thought that robs us of our peace, but a mountain of different worries that can create an avalanche of fear and anxiety when we least expect it.
So here’s a few things I am learning about protecting my peace. I pray these practices help you worry less and rest in the peace of God.
1. Bring your worries to Jesus. Every. Single. Day.
Spend time seeking the Lord daily, and when you pray, present your cares to Jesus. Lay them at His feet. Don’t feel bad about worrying, instead be honest with God about what is weighing you down, and ask for His help. He cares for you, and He wants to provide for you and sustain you. You can trust it all to Him!
2. Know when to stop scrolling and step away from the noise.
I’m not saying we should delete our social media accounts or that we should put our heads in the sand when horrible things happen in the world, but I do believe we need to know when to break free from news and social media to protect our mental health. Endless scrolling never leads to more peace; sadly, it usually leads to more anxiety. So put limits on how much time you will spend online, and take social media fasts as needed.
3. Be intentional about the conversations you have.
We are often tempted to commiserate with friends, coworkers and family when we are going through challenges. I know, I do! There is a difference though between being honest and seeking support from those we love, and engaging in pity parties. Be intentional about the conversations you choose to have and with whom you share your worries and concerns. Get real about what is weighing heavy on your heart with people of faith, compassion, and wisdom. Don’t share your worries with worriers… it will only lead to greater anxiety in your life.
4. Ask for others to pray for you.
We all need prayer. Ask for it. When you are feeling anxious, text a friend and ask them to pray for you. Pray with your spouse. Reach out to your small group leader or friend from church. There is a spiritual battle taking place in your life, and breakthroughs happen when we pray. Period.
5. Meditate on God’s Word.
What we dwell on impacts the peace we operate in. We must be diligent about renewing our minds to scripture. Spend time daily reading and reflecting on God’s Word. Write down a scripture on a piece of paper or notecard and keep it in your purse or pocket. Read it and think about it throughout the day. The Word of God brings peace to our hearts and our minds.
*If anxiety feels overwhelming and/or debilitating in your life right now, please seek professional help. Christian counseling and therapy is an amazing resource, and one that everyone can benefit from!