Written by Claire Hellar, Photo by Camille Fairbanks
Worry.
It’s a big part of life.
It usually starts in high school, especially junior and senior year, when you’ve got AP classes, SATs, AP tests, projects, club activities, and college applications. Even before that big things can make you worry though – the soccer game you really want to play well in, the birthday party you go to where you only know one person and you really want to make friends. That first day of middle school when you don’t know anyone and you have no idea what you’re getting into. Even the first day at your first part-time job.
And take it from me, it only gets worse as you get older – the older you get, the more reasons you have to to worry.
Life is always going to be constantly changing. There are a few things that will stay the same – your family and a few of your friends, hopefully. But reasons to worry and stress will never go away no matter how many of your dreams come true or how perfect your life becomes. There’s only one thing that really never changes – and that is the Word of God. God gave this to us so we’d have a guide for everything in life – and mostly, what that means is that he gave it to us so we’d look at Him, because He’s got everything we need. So don’t look at the Bible as just something that you’re supposed to read, or a book in which you read a chapter a day, or a book you only take to church on Sundays. Pull out of it what you need at the time that you need it.
I’ve fought a lot of worry, stress, and fear over the past few years. Which made me put together a list of Bible verses about this topic – and believe it or not God does talk about a lot, because he knows us, and he knows how much we freak out about small things. Here are the 12 verses I turn to the most, the ones I pulled out of the Bible and have been trying to memorize over the past year or so. In the same way you’d call your Mom or Dad if you got lost or a friend ditched you somewhere, these are the emergency numbers God gave you to call when you’re worried or stressed:
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Psalm 46:1-2 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Lamentations 3:22-23 – Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 33:25 – …as your days, so shall your strength be.
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good…
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,†declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.â€
James 4:13-14 – Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profitâ€; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Philippians 4:6-7 – 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.
Write these 12 down somewhere. Maybe print out this list and put it by your bed. Or write your favorite one on the mirror or on a post-it on your wall. God gave us these numbers to call – so use them. They’re His promises to us that He is with us always, and always taking care of things even if we can’t see it.
What are your emergency numbers?
To find more entries by Claire head over to Claire’s Corner!
- Choosing God - December 10, 2013
- His Love Overcomes - September 27, 2012
- The One Who Says “I Do” - September 13, 2012
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