Trusting God’s Plan Over Anxiety

By Dean Collins

I woke up one day last week thinking about a future problem. We all know that that is basically a waste of time since we can’t see the future, so how would we even know if the problem we are pondering actually appears in the future! Confession is good for the soul, so I will confess I lost an hour of needed sleep trying to solve a problem that I don’t know if I will ever see!

I suspect many of us have been keeping up with the Paris Olympics. We might want to consider something a French Renaissance philosopher said in the 1500s: “My life has been filled with terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.” It seems like we aren’t the only ones who have wasted time and lost sleep worrying about problems in the future. 

Our Heavenly Father knew long ago of our tendency to worry and anticipate the worst. The scriptures are filled with verses that can help us not get caught in the trap of anxiety about the future. When I opened my Bible today and looked at some verses that had recently jumped out at me, I realized I needed to focus on this passage, beginning in Psalm 32:8:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

We have options! We can choose to spend time worrying and strategizing about the possible problems we might face, or we can stop, pray, and ask God to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. I think the second option will be a significantly better option.

Our tendency to worry about the future is not age dependent. Current data suggests that this current generation is filled with anxiety. Those of us who are getting older might confess to worrying about having enough money in retirement or about current or future decline in our health. The good news is that God wants to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. Isn’t it comforting to read that he will literally keep his eyes on us as we go through life. 

God clearly knows us. Consider verse 9: “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.” Anyone willing to confess with me that you have been as stubborn as a mule concerning your determination to try to figure it out for yourself instead of surrendering to God’s wisdom and guidance?

Earlier in this psalm, David spoke of the blessing of having his sins forgiven. Then he confessed that when he didn’t confess his sins to the Lord, his life was miserable. He felt his energy draining by the hour, even through the night. Paul reminded us in Romans that we all have sinned, and we fall to temptation all throughout our lives. But when we confess our sins, the Lord is quick to forgive us.

Maybe today is a good day to own your tendency to be anxious about the future you have no control over. As we humbly come to the Lord with our confession, his steadfast love will surround us and strengthen us. Confession is good for the soul. David ended this psalm shouting for joy, rejoicing in the reality of his presence, his forgiveness, and God’s guidance.

Father, forgive us for allowing the enemy to stir us up to worry about things we have no control over. Today we turn to you, trusting fully that you will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. We will not be anxious about anything but will pray about everything. Thank you, Father, for all of your promises. Thank you for holding us close and ordering our steps. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 32:8-11 ESV

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash
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