Most of our worries can be summed up in two words: ‘What if?’ What if my exam results are bad…what if I can’t get into university…what if I get ill…what if I can’t get a job…the list is endless. The Bible says: ‘If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love’ (1 John 4:18 NLT). When we focus on our worries, we lose sight of God’s perfect love and faithfulness. But we don’t have to let our worries take over. Jesus tells us, ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid’ (John 14:27 NCV). Paul says, ‘Do not give the devil a way to defeat you’ (Ephesians 4:27 NCV). And Solomon writes: ‘Every day is hard for those who suffer, but a happy heart is like a continual feast’ (Proverbs 15:15 NCV). Whenever we’re afraid of what lies ahead, we should stop and look back at God’s faithfulness and love. ‘Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMP). When we’re overwhelmed by worry, here are some Bible promises to stand on. ‘Praise…the Lord, who has given rest to his people…just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave’ (1 Kings 8:56 NIV). We might think God won’t help us if we’ve failed or turned away from Him in the past. But He will, because even ‘if we are faithless, he remains faithful’ (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV). The truth is that before God saved you and made you His child, He knew of all your faults, flaws, and failures. But he’s still ‘faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.’

What Now?

Write a list of anything that’s worrying you today. Spend a few minutes telling God about each thing on the list and handing your worries to Him. Then over the top of each item, in a different colour, write ‘God is always loving and faithful’.