worry – Inner Beauty Bible Study

FICKLE FEELINGS CH 4: TRUSTING GOD FOR WORRY

I’ll never forget the lesson God taught me on worry. During my childhood, I was raised in a group of worriers. I was led to believe that you worry about people you love. As an adult, I grew anxious and full of worry. I finally cried out to God. God led me to write down my worries and surrender them to Him. God then had me look at my worries a week or so later. I learned that many of my worries never came to pass. I learned to trust God instead of worry about my problems. When I let go and let God, He always came through for me.

MEMORY VERSE

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Worry…

Worry is “to feel distressed in the mind; be anxious, troubled, or uneasy” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “mental distress or agitation resulting from concern…for something impending or anticipated” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Trust…

Trust is “to have…faith; place reliance; be confident” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). It is “to have confidence” in God (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

HIDDEN GEMS

But God, I can’t trust myself! I told God after my first manic episode. I was filled with worry about another manic episode coming upon me. My worry turned to anxiety. I had to learn to trust God with everything that I was worried about. Worry can fill our lives with unrest. We may not feel like we can trust anyone. However, we can trust God with everything.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

Read Psalm 55:22. What are we to cast upon the Lord?

What will God do for us?

What will God never let happen?

What a comforting verse. When we cast our cares upon the Lord, we will be free from worry. We will feel immediate relief. We can then praise God for removing our worries.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy” (Psalm 94:19, NIV).

Read Psalm 94:19. What was great within the author of this psalm?

What did God’s consolation bring him?

I can truly praise God now that He allowed the bipolar disorder to come into my life. Although I was shaken to the core, I trusted in God and His providence like never before. As the colon cancer came into my life, I was not shaken by it and held onto God as my rock. We may have trials in our lives which can bring us worry. The good news is that when we cling to God, He is right there for us and strengthens us in our faith.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7, NIV).

Read Jeremiah 17:7. Who is blessed?

What do we have in God?

We are truly blessed when we trust in God. We will not be shaken. We can have confidence in approaching God and surrendering our worries and have His peace that passes all understanding in the process.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, NIV). We can indeed trust in the Lord with all we have. However, when we rely on our own understanding, we will be filled with worry. However, when we seek God for His wisdom, we will experience peace.

Name a time when you worried about something.

Did it come to pass?

How did you draw near to God?

What Scripture spoke to you during this time?

How did you experience God’s peace?

Do you have any worries right now?

Take the time to surrender them to God.

“And we know that God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV). What a comforting promise! God does indeed work all things together for good. We can approach God with all we have and experience His peace and strength to face whatever comes our way.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I surrender my worries to you this day. Thank You for replacing my worry into peace as I trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

He that fears not the future may enjoy the present. Thomas Fuller

Don’t worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything. All it does is distort your mind. Milton Garland

Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God. Thomas a Kempis

Trust in God, and do something. Mary Lyon

He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things. Alphonsus Liguori

AT THE CROSS CH 4: CAST YOUR CARES

As I went through the healing from the pain of sexual abuse, I experienced anxiety and PTSD. I was deeply troubled. I felt overwhelmed. I thought if I could remember as much as possible in a short period of time, I would get over it sooner. However, this only brought a setback in my healing. I cried out to God. He helped me to see that I needed to come to Him for comfort and strength. I began to understand that the healing would take place little by little. As I faced my emotional pain little by little with God’s help, I didn’t become overwhelmed. I also learned to cast my care upon Him. I left my concerns at the foot of the cross. I learned through this process how much God cares for every little part of my life.

MEMORY VERSE

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Care…

Care is “a troubled or burdened state of mind; worry; concern” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). It is “to be anxious about, to have a distracting care” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

HIDDEN GEMS

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV). We can feel the burden of our worries and cares when we try to carry them on our own. God never intended for it to be this way. He is ready and willing to take these burdens from us to lighten our spirit as we cast our cares on Him and leave our concerns at the foot of the cross.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

Read Psalm 55:22. What will the Lord do when we cast our cares on Him?

What will he never do?

God has promised in His Word to sustain us when we cast our cares upon the Lord. When we hold onto our cares and concerns, we feel overwhelmed and burdened. However, God will not let us be shaken when we cast our cares upon Him.

“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 6:33-34, NIV).

Read Matthew 6:33-34. What are we to seek first?

What will be given to us?

What are we not to worry about?

Why is this so?

What does each day have?

Worry overwhelms us with the concerns of tomorrow. However, God desires for us to live in the present. When we take one day at a time, we will be strengthened to face whatever comes our way with God’s strength instead of our own.

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:14-15, NIV).

Read Luke 8:14-15. What does the seed that fell among thorns stand for?

What are these people choked by?

What do they not do?

What does the seed on good soil stand for?

What do they do with the Word?

How do they produce a crop?

The seed among thorns stands for the cares of this world. We lose sight of Christ and His promises found in His Word and focus on the past and future. When we worry, we do not mature in our Christian walk. It is only when we place our trust upon the Solid Rock that we will mature and will not be shaken.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV). Worry overwhelms us. We may be deceived into thinking that worrying is how we show love and concern for others. This is not true. However, when we cast our cares upon the Lord, we will not be shaken.

Name a time when you were worried about a family member or friend.

How did you feel?

How did you reach out to God for help?

How did you cast your cares upon the Lord?

How did this lift your burden off of you?

Our walk with God will be strengthened as we place our trust in Him. As we trust in Him to take care of our worries, we will mature in our relationship with Him. We can be assured of relief when we cast our cares upon Him.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I give you my worries that I have this day. Help me to always cast my cares upon You so that I will not be overwhelmed by them. Help me to live in the present. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

Worry is like a rocking chair, it’ll give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. Author unknown

I am free from worry…I am to cast all my cares upon Him. Author unknown

Tomorrow has two handles: the handle of fear and the handle of faith. You can take hold of it by either handle. Author unknown

He that fears not the future may enjoy the present. Thomas Fuller

Worry gives a small thing a big shadow. Swedish Proverb

JUBILANT JOY CH 1: JOY STEALERS

When I was away from the Lord in my teens and early twenties, depression, worry and anxiety filled me. Joy was so far away from my understanding. I remember being in the hospital for depression in my teens and feeling so helpless. I thought I knew what joy was because I escaped from the turmoil in my home by going shopping. However, this happiness never lasted. I also thought that I was loving others by worrying about them. This only filled me with anxiety and helplessness. I thank God for wooing me back to Him when I was 25. It would take time for God to help me through my joy stealers but eventually I knew what was stealing me of my joy and focused upon God to get me through. I eventually realized that the joy of the Lord is my strength.

MEMORY VERSE

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Worry…

Worry is “to feel distressed in the mind; be anxious, troubled or uneasy” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “mental distress or agitation” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Anxiety…

Anxiety is “a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what may happen; concern about a possible future event” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). Anxiety is “a distracting care” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

HIDDEN GEMS

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV). When we are under the pressure of anxiety and worry, we can feel overwhelmed. We may feel like we don’t know where to turn. However, the good news is that we can bring our anxiety and worry to God and He will cheer us up and give us peace.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

Read Psalm 55:22. What are we to cast on the Lord?

What will the Lord do?

What will God never let the righteous be?

“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight” (Psalm 119:143, NIV). When in distress, we can turn to God’s Word for help. God will erase our worry and anxiety as we read the Bible and we can then experience delight and joy.

Read Matthew 6:33-34. What are we to seek first?

What will happen as a result?

What are we not to worry about?

What will worry about itself?

What does each day have?

This section of Scripture is about worry. These verses sum up what we are to seek after instead of worrying about what we eat or what we wear. We need not worry about tomorrow because God is in control of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after such things, and your Father knows that you need them” (Luke 12:29-30, NIV).

Read Luke 12:29-30. What are we not to set our heart on?

What are we not to do?

Who runs after these things?

What does God know?

Once again, worry is addressed in His Word. We are not to worry. When we worry, we can easily become overwhelmed. God knows our needs and desires to meet them if we come to Him for help.

Read Philippians 4:6-7. What we not to be anxious about?

By what are we to do in every situation?

With what are we to present our requests to God?

How is the peace of God described?

What will this peace guard?

We are not to be anxious about anything. I am grateful that the Lord placed these Scriptures on worry and anxiety into His Word. It helped me tremendously when I was struggled with anxiety and worry. When I brought my worries to God and left them there, I indeed experienced His peace that passes all understanding.

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6, NIV).

Read Psalm 18:6. In what did David call to the Lord?

What did he cry to God for?

How did God hear his voice?

What came before Him?

The answer to joy stealers is to cry out to the Lord. God promises to hear our cries for help. Anxiety and worry can be brought before God for His peace that passes understanding. We will then be set free from the joy stealers in our life.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). Anxiety and worry can easily overwhelm us and steal our joy. God cares about every worry that we have. God never intended for us to carry these burdens. When we cast our anxiety on Him, we will experience His peace and His joy.

Name a time when you were worried about something.

How did anxiety affect you?

How did this affect your relationship with God?

How did you turn to God for help?

What Scripture spoke to you during this time?

How did you cast your care upon the Lord?

How did this bring you peace and joy?

Worry and anxiety can easily rear its ugly head in our everyday lives. The news is filled with bad news. When we focus on the bad of the world, we will easily become overwhelmed. However, when we fill our minds with God’s Word, we will experience peace once again.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I release my worries to You. Help me to experience your joy and peace once again as I leave them with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying. Dale Carnegie

Fear and worry are interest paid in advance on something you may never own. Author unknown

Never try to carry tomorrow’s burdens with today’s grace. Author unknown

Worry is carrying a burden God never intended us to bear. Author unknown

Worry gives a small thing a big shadow. Swedish proverb

ABUNDANT LIVING CH 1: CAST YOUR CARES

“I’m worried about my sister.” “I’m worried about my mother.” I learned from an early age how to worry. I remember believing that I worried about someone because I loved them. However, as an adult, God helped me to see that this was not an act of love. It only weighed me down with anxiety and unrest. God taught me to cast my cares on Him. I’ll never forget the lesson I learned from Him concerning worry. When I was worried about something, God asked me to lift the concern up to Him in prayer and leave it there. I was then to write it down and leave it there for a few days. When I later came back to this note, I was amazed at the number of times the things I was worrying about never came to fruition. I thanked God for this amazing lesson on casting my cares on Him.

MEMORY VERSE

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Anxiety…

Anxiety is “a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what may happen; concern about a possible future event” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “fearful concern or interest” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). It is “to have a distracting care” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

Worry…

Worry is “to cause to feel troubled or uneasy; make anxious; distress” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “mental distress or agitation resulting from concern…for something impending or anticipated” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

HIDDEN GEMS

In order to live an abundant life, we must learn to cast our cares on the Lord. When we worry and are anxious, we are weighed down by our troubles. However, when we pray to God and lift our worries to Him, we will experience His peace. We must also remember not to take the worry back after we have lifted it up to God in prayer.

Read Philippians 4:6-7. What are we not to be anxious about?

How are we to present our requests to God?

How is the peace of God described?

What will His peace guard?

In today’s world, anxiety is rampant. There is so much turmoil in this world that it can be easy to become anxious and worried. The good news is that we can reach out to God in prayer and petition. When we present our requests to God, we will experience His peace that passes all understanding.

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God…The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:11, 14-15, NIV).

Read Luke 8:11, 14-15. What is the seed in the parable?

What do those who hear but go on their way choked by?

How is the heart of those whose seed fell on good soil described?

How do they produce a crop?

The parable of the seeds show how we can become overwhelmed by the cares of the world and not yield a crop. We need to stay close to God in reading His Word and prayer. When we draw near to Him, God will draw near to us. We will then yield a crop for His Kingdom.

Read Matthew 6:33-34. What are we to seek first?

What will we receive?

What are we not to worry about?

Why are we to not worry about tomorrow?

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6, NIV). We can find great solace in knowing that God hears our cries to help. When we cast our cares upon Him, we will not only experience His peace but also have an abundant life.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22, NIV). When we cast our cares upon the Lord, He will not only sustain us but we will find strength to face whatever comes our way. We will not be shaken when we cast our cares upon the Lord.

Name a time when you felt overwhelmed and worried about the cares of the world.

How did you feel?

How did you cry out to God?

How did you cast your cares upon the Lord?

How did you feel?

How did God’s peace replace your anxiety?

“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight” (Psalm 119:143, NIV). God’s Word can indeed give us delight. We can meditate upon Scriptures and soon discover the cares of this world to fade away. The Word of God is medicine of peace to our souls.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I give you my worries and cares for this day. Help me to leave them with You as I cast my cares upon You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

Stop thinking about your difficulties, whatever they are, and start thinking about God instead. Emmet Fox

Don’t worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything. All it does is distort your mind. Milton Garland

He that fears not the future may enjoy the present. Thomas Fuller

Worry gives a small thing a big shadow. Swedish Proverb

Don’t take tomorrow to bed with you. Norman Vincent Peale

PERFECT PEACE CH 1: PEACE STEALERS

“I’m just a worry wart.” I would tell this to people to explain my shaking hands. I would see worry as a mark of distinction. I grew up believing that you worried about those you love. Worrying was an act of love. It wasn’t until I grew in my Christian walk that God taught me otherwise. I learned that the anxiety and unrest that followed my worrying did not help the other person. It only made me miserable. God taught me to bring my worries to Him and leave them there. I would lift those I cared for up in prayer to the Lord. Then my worries no longer had a hold on me as I allowed God’s peace that passes all understanding to fill me.

MEMORY VERSE

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Anxiety…

Anxiety is “a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what may happen” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is a “painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind…over an impending or anticipated ill” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Worry…

Worry is “to feel distressed in the mind; be anxious, troubled or uneasy” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “mental distress or agitation resulting from concern…for something impending or anticipated” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Strife…

Strife is “the act or state of fighting or quarreling…struggle; conflict” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “an act of contention; fight; struggle” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

HIDDEN GEMS

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6, NIV). In this world, we will have distress. However, we can cry out to the Lord for His help instead of trying to do it on our own. Worry and anxiety creates unrest.

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy” (Psalm 94:18-19, NIV).

Read Psalm 94:18-19. What did the psalmist say?

What supported the psalmist?

What was great within him?

What brought him joy?

God’s unfailing love supports us. We can turn our anxieties into joy as we come to God for help. Consolation is “comfort; solace” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). God desires to comfort us as He lifts our anxieties from us when we bring our cares to Him.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:6-7, 9, NIV).

Read Philippians 4:6-7, 9. What are we not to be anxious about?

How are we to present our requests to God?

How is God’s peace described?

What will God’s peace do?

What are we to put into practice?

What will be the result?

We are instructed in God’s Word not to be anxious about anything. This is because we can bring our worries and concerns to God. This will lift the burdens off of our minds that God never intended for us to carry.

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” (Proverbs 13:10, NIV).

Read Proverbs 13:10. What is present where there is strife?

Where is wisdom found?

Worry and strife are peace stealers. Worry produces anxiety in our minds and affects our relationships. We can obtain God’s peace when we give our worries to God. We can give our strife, pride and anger to God which interferes with our relationship with Him. In return, we will have God’s peace that passes understanding.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). Anxiety and worry are peace stealers in our lives. We can give God our worries because He knows what is best for us and desires to give us His peace that passes understanding.

How do you see worry and anxiety in your life?

What worries are you dealing with this day?

How has this affected your life?

Give God your worries because He cares for you?

What relief do you feel as you give your worries and burdens to God?

Thank God for taking your worries and giving you His peace.

“It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3, NIV). Strife and fighting create unrest. We can be at odds with another person. Strife produces unforgiveness instead of forgiveness and peace.

Is there anyone in your life you are at odds with?

How has this strife affected your relationship?

How has strife affected your relationship with God?

Take time today to forgive the person and reach out to them.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22, NIV). God will sustain us in the hustle and bustle of life. Worries can creep into our minds. The good news is that God will lift those burdens off of us as we give our worries to Him.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today to give You my worries and cares. Help me to leave them with You. I now strive to walk in peace as I give my worries and strife to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Author unknown

Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. Author unknown

He that fears not the future may enjoy the present. Thomas Fuller

Don’t take tomorrow to bed with you. Norman Vincent Peale

There is no need for two to care, for God to care and the creature too. C.H. Spurgeon

CALM CONTENTMENT CH 5: BLESSED PEACE

With turmoil surrounding me, I was an anxious child. I remember my hands shaking. I was always waiting for the next round of problems, such as my brother’s angry alcoholic tirades. As I grew into my young adult years, anxiety and worry were still a facet of my life. That was until I re-dedicated my life to Christ at the age of twenty-five. Gradually, God gave me a recipe of how to conquer worry. When I would catch myself worrying, I would give my worry and anxiety to the Lord. I would also take note of the worry. A few days later, I would see that many times, the thing I was worried about never came to fruition. Prayer and releasing my worries to God was the greatest gift in bringing me His peace that passes all understanding instead of my worry and anxiety.

MEMORY VERSE

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Anxiety…

Anxiety is “a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what may happen; concern about a possible future event” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is a “fearful concern or interest” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Worry…

Worry is “to cause to feel troubled or uneasy; make anxious; distress” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “to afflict with mental distress or agitation” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Peace…

Peace is “an undisturbed state of mind; absence of mental conflict; serenity” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is a “freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). Peace is “the sense of rest and contentment” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

HIDDEN GEMS

Anxiety and worry can easily creep into a believer’s life. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the cares and burdens in this present world. However, God has promised to relieve our burdens when we come to Him in prayer.

Read Matthew 6:25-34. What examples of worry does Jesus bring up? (v. 25)

What does He say about the birds of the air? (v. 26)

How does this relate to our worry? (v. 26)

What cannot add a single hour to our lives? (v. 27)

What does Jesus say about the flowers of the field? (v. 28-29)

How will God clothe us? (v. 30)

What does Jesus say we have little of? (v. 30)

What are we not to focus upon? (v. 31)

What does our Heavenly Father know we need? (v. 32)

What are we to seek first? (v. 33)

What will be given to us as well? (v. 33)

Why are we not to worry? (v. 34)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). God promises to provide for our every need. However, we must come to Him in faith, believing He will provide for our needs. When we go to God in faith, He will meet us and give us His peace and provision.

Read Philippians 4:6-7. What are we not to be anxious about?

How are we to bring our requests to God?

With what are we to present our requests to God?

What is promised that transcends all understanding?

What will this promised virtue guard?

Peace – something we all desire. In the hustle and bustle of the world, it is easy for anxiety to creep in. However, God desires to give us His peace when we come to Him in prayer. We can praise God for being there to meet all of our needs as well as giving us His peace that passes all understanding.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV). In the world that we face, anxiety can easily creep into our lives. We can become overwhelmed with circumstances beyond our control. It is here that God desires to meet us and relieve us of our burdens.

How has anxiety and worry played a role in your life?

How have you dealt with anxiety in the past?

What current worries are you carrying?

Release them to the Lord in prayer.

How do you experience His peace as you lift up your burdens in prayer?

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14, NIV). We are to seek peace. The good news is that it is not out of our reach. When we go to God, He is right there with His peace.

How do you view God’s peace?

Have you experienced His peace that passes understanding in the past?

How have you seen peace in other believers?

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” (1 Corinthians 14:33, NIV). Peace is within our grasp when we go to God. I remember desiring what some other believer had. She had a joyful countenance about her. She did not seem to be bothered by her trials. When I went to God in prayer, He showed me that it was peace I was lacking in my life. I asked God for His peace and He freely gave it to me. We can all trade the anxiety and worry of this world for His peace that passes all understanding. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NIV).

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up my worries to You. Please take them and grant me Your peace instead. Thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding. Help me to hold onto Your peace instead of the cares of the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

He that fears not the future may enjoy the present. Thomas Fuller

Great peace is found in little busy-ness. Geoffrey Chaucer

Christ alone can bring lasting peace – peace with God – peace among men and nations – and peace within our hearts. Billy Graham

Peace reigns where our Lord reigns. Julian of Norwich

We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God. Thomas Merton