(photo courtesy of Renee Chesson)
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”- Psalm 28:7
Ever find yourself worried and unsettled about things? It seems like worry is a part of every stage of life. When I was a teen, I worried about school, my grades, my friends, my weight, and even my hair!
When I was a young married, I worried about finances, juggling a household and work, and not burning the dinner.
As a mom, I worried about everything and anything that had to do with my children. Sickness, bullies in school, their salvation, etc. When they went off to college, I worried about their safety, the decisions they would make, their grades, who they might meet and marry, etc.
And now that I’m a grandmother, well, I seem to worry about similar things for my grandchildren. It’s almost like starting all over again!
Today, we live in a very chaotic and uncertain world that can cause our hearts to be extremely troubled. Things are happening all around us in which we have no control. We face an unstable economy, a weakening governmental system, a terroristic war in Israel, the lack of respect in society for law enforcement, threat of unknown viruses emerging, and the deterioration of traditional and Biblical values. (I never thought I’d see a time when American churches were ordered to shut their doors and pastors were arrested for keeping them open!)
So how do we keep ourselves from being overwhelmed in worry and fear?
Here are God’s answers to a heart that is T-R-O-U-B-L-E-D.
- Trust the Lord
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
To trust someone means to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of that person. Remember the saying, “Let go and let God”? Trusting allows us to do that very thing. When we trust God, we don’t play tug-o-war with Him over the problem or situation. We don’t even try to figure it out. Instead, we totally rely on Him for the answer and the timing of that answer.
However, it’s not very easy, which leads us to the second remedy for the troubled heart.
- Remember
“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” – Psalm 77:11
One of the things that happens with advancing age is the change in memory. The interesting thing about that is that memories of years long gone by remain. That’s referred to as long-term memories. Short term memories tend to be harder to recall as you age. At times, that is a tremendous blessing for me! It’s easy to reflect on the past works of God that I’ve experienced, and this helps me remember who God is.
There is a song that I love, and it’s about an elderly lady who is suffering from loss of memory. It’s entitled “She Still Remembers Jesus”, and it speaks of how she has forgotten things, including her children and even her husband, but she still remembers when she got saved, Bible verses, and Sunday school songs. There is a lot of truth in this song.
In order to trust in God, we must remember who He is and what He has previously done for us. I am sure if we asked our family and friends to share how God answered a specific prayer in their lives, we would all be praising His name for His goodness to us.
- Open the Bible
“My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” – Psalm 119:28
Usually when my heart is troubled, I turn to two of my favorite books in the Bible… Psalms and John. Both are full of calming words for me. Specific Psalms that minister to me when I am burdened with cares and worries are Psalm 46 and 61. In John, I gravitate to chapter 14. I also have specific verses that target areas in which I am struggling. What are your favorite passages that help de-escalate your moments of worry?
The Word of God is truly like a healing balm to a troubled heart. There are many verses to remind us that God is with us; that God cares for us; that God is in control… sometimes when we are fearful, we forget the truth of Scripture that can calm our hearts, but that is why we have His Holy Spirit within us. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) He brings to remembrance all things… including the verses you’ve memorized or passages you’ve read… to help you through the trials and tribulations of life.
- Use prayer daily
“Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
The first thing to do when your heart is troubled is to pray. However, prayer often is a last resort for many of us. We need to flip that switch! God wants us to share our fears, concerns, and worries with Him. We are told to “cast our cares upon Him” and to “pray without ceasing”.
Praying settles my troubled heart because I know whatever I bring before Him, He gives His full attention. I give all my fears and worries over to the One who is in total control. Remembering and realizing who God is, and what He can do through prayer, brings peace to my troubled heart.
- Ban negativity
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8
I no longer start or end my day by listening to the news on television. It usually invoked three types of emotions in me. Fear, anger or frustration. This then would be what I would dwell on as I headed to work in the morning or prepared for sleep at night. Once I eliminate the negativity of the world that can so easily invade my mind and fill my head with good things, my heart ceases to be troubled with all the “what-ifs”. To help prevent a troubled heart, I now chose to start my day in the Word of God.
That doesn’t mean we are to be ignorant of what is happening in our world, but we must exercise wisdom in regard to what we put into our minds. If I were a soldier, I wouldn’t run into battle to check out the enemy and then return back to the barracks to get my gun and ammunition. I would first equip myself to protect myself against the enemy. We must do the same with our spiritual lives. (Ephesians 6)
- Lean on others
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” – I Corinthians 1:9
Christian friends are a wonderful source of encouragement and support when we need a shoulder to lean on, someone to pray with you, or someone to give you a hug when you need one. Often when my heart is troubled, I can share my burdens with a sister in Christ, and she can share verses or experiences that have helped her in the past. Being in church with the family of God is a tremendous source of comfort for a troubled heart. Hebrews 10:25 urges us to be there for each other: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
- Engage in service
“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,”– Luke 1:74
When our nerves are frayed and our hearts unsettled, reaching out and doing something for someone else is a great way to forget what is ailing us. When we are concentrating on someone else, it is easy to forget about ourselves. Serving others is a wonderful way to keep us focused on God and soothe a troubled heart.
- Delight your soul in song
“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.” – Psalm 71:23
There is a saying that music calms the savage beast. Well, music calms the troubled heart. Singing has often calmed my heart… not singing in the church choir, but singing to the Lord in my own private place. I like to listen to instrumental hymns at home and sing along with them, and when I am troubled and start singing those old traditional hymns, like “It Is Well with My Soul” or “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, my heart moves from a state of worry to one of worship. When I am worshiping God in song, my heart rejoices in Him and troubles dissipate.
If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow’r of hell and death is at your side,
Know that I am with you through it all.
Be not afraid. I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.
(from “Be Not Afraid” by Bob Dufford)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
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You may feel out of control, but remember… God never is!