Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 042 Cast Your Cares
Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #042 – Cast Your Cares
Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective.
This episode is not about the election, but because it will air the week of Election Day, I understand that as we are waiting to see the results, or after the results are in, some people may be quite upset. Some people will worry so much that the feelings and fears in their minds will affect their body in unhealthy ways as the worry spirals into anxiety.
This is perfect timing to address how worry and anxiety withers our spirit and divides our heart, just as it seems to be dividing our nation. Allowing worry and/or anxiety to seep into our mind actually hands wicked power to our emotions and separates us from the provisions of God.
Worry is an uneasy human condition our Creator knew we would experience. Jesus no doubt was faced with the threat of worry when he lived on this earth. We know that although Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man. He felt the emotions we experience and understood the pain and uncertainty behind them. Since we have the hindsight of knowing the life of Jesus and the privilege of His words and promises to us, we can be thankful that He specifically addresses worry for us, providing us assurance and hope that anxiety can be overcome. Through Him.
As you may have heard on this podcast, I love diving into the formal definitions of words. Let’s look at how worry is defined: to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; to fret, to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague.
Listen to this definition: to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another. To divide, tear, rip apart, and shake in opposite directions.
When we allow worry or anxiety to torment us, we allow emotions, and in turn, our life to be torn apart by the circumstances we are facing.
Worry grants power to what concerns us, allowing disturbing thoughts to grip and rule us as God is removed from the center of our thoughts.
Our Heavenly Father provided us with what we need to be able to experience the human emotions he allowed us, yet not be overwhelmed by them. He offers us opportunity and resources to choose to exercise faith and trust that He is enough to overcome our greatest obstacles.
Because we tend allow our minds to conceive and dwell on so much, it can be very difficult to release worry, frustrations, fears, and other emotions that contribute to anxiety. Through Jesus, help is at hand.
If we read Matthew 6:25-34, we see that Jesus actually repeats the command, “Do not worry,” a total of three times in these few verses. This proves that He understands how difficult it can be to lay worry at His feet. In His words to us, He also offers five truths that have the power to defy and erase worry and anxiety.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
What are some of the ways that worry (and the anxiety it leads to) is harmful?
Jesus shows us in these passages:
1. Jesus understands that worry is an obstacle. He also knows that through Him, it can be overcome. Jesus asks us to not worry, not to be concerned with our life, what we will eat or drink, what we will wear. If we are followers of Jesus and have committed our life to Him, we are trusting Him to lead us into eternity. We can most certainly trust Him with the small details of everyday life.
2. Jesus sees even birds of the air. They have no true home; they are not able to collect or save, yet they are well-fed and cared for. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us? We are much more valuable to Him than the birds He provides for.
3. Jesus reminds us that worrying gains us nothing of value. It leads to harmful effects in our mind and body, affecting our health and mental attitude, as well as our words and actions. Most of all, it builds a wedge between God and us.
4. Jesus gives us the example of the beauty of the fields. How gorgeous are the colorful fields and flowers? The colors, textures, and designs God has created in nature are only copied by humans. Everything we create is modeled after what God has already accomplished and shared with us. “The lilies of the field neither toil not spin,” yet they are more beautifully dressed than even King Solomon could be. We are of much more value and God longs for us to have faith in the provisions He has set for us.
5. Jesus knows our needs and longs for us to release our concerns to Him. He yearns for us to exhibit faith and trust because we believe He intimately understands and cares for every one of us. When we follow Jesus as our Savior, we unknowingly exhibit a lack of faith and relationship when we allow worry to control us.
Jesus directs us to prioritize our relationship with Him. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (verse 33). We must remain proactive. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.” (verse 34).
How do we ensure that we keep Jesus first?
1. Lift and fix my eyes on Jesus and constantly placing Him at the top of my daily to-do list.
2. Make sure I make time for His word.
3. Strive to understand His holy word.
4. Apply God’s word to my daily life through the actions I make and using it as my mental guide for wisdom.
5. Seek to know and grow in the Lord through daily conversation through prayer.
6. Intentionally be still enough to hear Him speak to me.
7. Obey what I know God is sharing and commanding me to do and be.
Relationship with God through Jesus is the only strategy to effectively combat worry and anxiety.
In addition to reminding us not to worry, it is said that the command to “fear not” is given 365 times in the Bible. With 365 days a year, that gives us one reminder per day. God knows we are forgetful and prideful, and tend to carry loads we are not meant to. Our loving Heavenly Father always walks ahead of us, providing for every need.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”
Psalm 56:3-4 says, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”
No matter what you desired the outcome of the election to be, and beyond that, no matter what ails you in this very moment, God understands.
Our loving Father has allowed this moment in time so that you will turn to Him, trusting that He is in charge. Allow Him to carry your load and offer relief.
Romans 8:26-28 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Seek Him. Trust Him. Call out to Him. Release worries to Him. Repeat as often as needed as you build and grow your faith.
Father God, please help me. I’m in need of Your everlasting goodness and provisions to keep my eyes, mind, and heart fixed on You. This world and the distractions within it cause me to stumble daily. I trust in You, but fall and fail so often. My spirit is weak and I need Your beautiful reminders of provision and hope. Please strengthen my faith and trust and provide me with freedom from worry and anxiety. Help me place my concerns in Your capable hands and give me the joy and pleasure of seeing You work and provide for my every true need. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.
If you enjoyed this podcast, and would like to receive a free resource that ties to this episode and was created to help ease your spirit and attack worry or anxiety, visit terrihitt.com/resources and download the “Cast Your Cares - Resources Against Worry” Ebook.
I deeply desire God to cultivate a strong community of women who embrace life with an eternal perspective through the work He has given me. I pray you will be inspired and equipped to seek and abide in God’s truths as you live with deep joy and will influence children to live for and find their identity through Jesus.
Besides playing on Apple Podcast and Spotify, the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast is also linked to my new website. Would you like others to hear weekly encouragement and learn how to live with more eternal perspective? Can you think of a friend or family member who might enjoy encouragement? If so, please share this podcast with them and take time to leave a quick rating and review. Until next week, keep looking Up and finding new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.