God’s Words of Life for Mothers: On Worry

Bible Verses

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. — Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. — Luke 12:32

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. — Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord blesses His people with peace. — Psalm 29:11

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. — 1 peter 5:7

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. — Psalm 46:10-11

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. — Psalm 125:1

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. — Psalm 55:22

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:3-4

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 can add a single hour to your life? 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 Je 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 6:25-34

Devotional Thought on Worry

Moses stands on the edge of the Red Sea with the Israelites bleating like scared sheep while the Egyptians bear down on them.

“It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” they baaa-aaahed in Exodus 14:12.

Moses’ response to the Israelites is much like God’s response to us when the Red Sea blocks our way and the Egyptians of our day are closing in:

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. — Exodus 14:13-14

Who are the Egyptians bearing down on us today? Bills to be paid? Unkind critics? And what is the Red Sea that threatens to hem us in from hope? Unemployment? Illness? Confusion about our personal value?

Where the tendency may be to worry, panic, and run, God tells us we “need only to be still.” This day, this minute, stuck between the Egyptians and the Red Sea, choose to lay aside fear and instead be still.

Excerpted with permission from God’s Words of Life for Mothers, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Be still, mom. In the middle of the worry over your kids, the finances, the busy schedule, the stresses, be still. Be still and trust God. He’s with you and for you! Come and share your thoughts with us on our blog. We would love to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily