I was thinking today… I am sure we have all heard the saying – “Give it to God.” Do we really do that? I know sometimes I think I have done that and then I find myself worrying and stressing over things I cannot control. Do you still feel guilty over some decision you made, even though you know it was the right and best decision in the circumstances? Do you still feel responsible for someone else’s choices? Do you still worry over something when you know you did the best you could?

I think we need to learn to really give our relationships, people, circumstances… everything… to God. Maybe we need to imagine putting that problem, circumstance, person etc. into our open hands and then literally handing it over to God. Pray and ask God to take the burden and/or to give us the wisdom to make God honoring decisions.

We can’t begin to do what needs to be done or to make wise choices when we are weighed down by worry, stress, guilt, etc. The ironic thing is that if we worry over something, then we think we will come up with some sort of solution. But I have found that worrying actually blocks any kind of real solution. There is a difference between coming up with solutions and implementing them rather than ruminating on the problem itself. I am just speaking from my own personal experience, but I’m sure many of you can relate.

At some point we all have to come to terms with the fact that we can’t control other people or certain circumstances, situations or outcomes. We still love, help, support and do what we can, but then not get upset when we don’t get the response or change we wanted. Be God honoring in all situations and then give the outcome to God.

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

(Jeremiah 31:25) “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the Lord of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

To God be the Glory,

Lynn Manucci Warrick