Amy Simpson is author of Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry. She also serves as editor of Gifted for Leadership, Senior Editor of Leadership Journal, a speaker, and a Co-Active personal and professional coach. You can find her at AmySimpsonOnline.com and on Twitter @aresimpson.
This fall, I’ve invited a few friends to share what God is teaching them. I hope their words are an encouragement to you as you continue to awaken to the joy and delight that comes with being a child of God.
by Amy Simpson
My life began to change the day I heard Isaiah 40 in a whole new way.
I was sitting at the back of a church, half-listening to a speaker while I gave the better part of my mind to worrying over my circumstances. I was facing financial peril, a possible move, an impending job change, and all the worries that burden the typical woman with a marriage, a mortgage, and growing kids.
But in an instant, the Holy Spirit grabbed my attention and focused it on the holy words the speaker was reading:
“To whom will you compare me?
Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)
I had heard and read these words many times, but I was startled by the setting of my worries against this poetic proclamation of God’s great power. As I heard this message imploring God’s people to trust him and take comfort in his greatness, I realized I was overlooking the same opportunity.
This same God, who names and keeps track of all the stars, was as sovereign as ever, and he was more than worthy of my trust.
Suddenly I felt ridiculous, clinging to worry and rejecting the peace that comes with trusting in God’s power, plans, and love. I claimed to trust God, but I didn’t. Not really. I began to open my hands, just a little, and let go of what never belonged to me: the future, people I love, possessions I felt I couldn’t live without.
After a lot more practice, I’m sort of hooked on letting go. It’s a choice that doesn’t make any sense if God is dead, uncaring, or too distracted to care about me. But it’s the only choice that makes sense if God is who he says he is. And I believe he is.
Much of our worry is fueled by a sense of possession over the things and people who are important to us. But God owns everyone and everything. When we try to cling to what he has placed in our lives for now, we fool ourselves. We can’t keep what we don’t have.
Likewise, we waste ourselves when we worry over the future, which also belongs only to God. The future isn’t ours and might never be—why try to live there? When we worry over the future, we’re almost always imagining a scenario without God’s intervention and goodness, without his provision, without the unforeseen good that is always possible. We ignore God’s larger plan in favor of focusing on our own comfort and desired outcomes.
When we claim ownership and ultimate responsibility, we impose a smaller plan and far inferior wisdom on people. We limit our possessions to service in meeting our own needs and goals rather than doing God’s work. When we ignore the present because we’re trying to discern the future, we reject what God has given us in favor of what we can’t have. Letting go sets us free from a responsibility we can’t possibly live up to. It also sets us free from a mess of worry.
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This week we’re giving away 3 copies of Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry by Amy Simpson.
Our culture is frantic with worry. We stress over circumstances we can’t control, we talk about what’s keeping us up at night and we wring our hands over the fate of disadvantaged people all over the world, almost as if to show we care and that we have big things to care about. Worry is part of our culture, an expectation of responsible people. And sadly, Christians are no different.
But we are called to live and think differently from the worried world around us. The fact is, worry is sin, but we don’t seem to take it seriously. It is a spiritual problem, which ultimately cannot be overcome with sheer willpower—its solution is rooted entirely in who God is. How can we live life abundantly, with joy, as God has called us to do, when we’re consumed by anxiety?
We are commanded not to worry, not only in the well-known words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 6, but also throughout the Old Testament and the epistles to the church. The Bible makes it clear that the future belongs only to God, who rules and is not subject to the limitations of time. To live with joy and contentment, trusting God with the present and the future, is a countercultural feat that can be accomplished only through him. Challenging the idolatrous underpinnings of worry, former Christianity Today executive Amy Simpson encourages us to root our faith in who God is, not in our own will power. We don’t often give much thought to why worry offends God, but indulging anxiety binds us to mere possibilities and blinds us to the truth. Correctly understanding the theology of worry is critical to true transformation. This is a book not just for people who worry; this is a call to the church to turn its eyes from the things of earth and fix its eyes on the author and completer of our faith.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The three winners will be selected and announced on Friday.
What do you need to let go of?
I love Isaiah 40. It does provide us with the glory of God and how awesome and powerful He is. However, my favorite verse is in the next chapter of Isaiah. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” That has helped me through many a storm in life. But I do love the verses you quoted too. All Scripture is so useful and helpful to live out a life of love. The book sounds wonderful and I’d love to win a copy.
Thanks for commenting, Debbie. I’m with you. That verse is wonderful. Many of us have forgotten about the power of God’s Word to change us and help us live as he calls us to. It’s one of the reasons it’s so important for us to lift our heads from our own concerns and look to what God has given us.
Instead of worry, we need worglee!!! http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/dont-settle-for-glee-when-you-can-have-worglee/
Thanks for this encouragement to fix our eyes on God, who is so worthy of our trust.
I need to let go of worry about the future!
I need to let go of toxic relationships. I need to trust we are not alone and that God will provide. I need to trust that He us enough.
I feel anxiety when I cannot force circumstances to work out the way I think they should. Slowly I am learning that God always has a better plan than I could imagine.
Always a good reminder. He who knows the stars by name: He can handle my small human problems!
This post is so relevant to me as I currently face financial strain and an unnecessary need for control. Thank you, Amy Simpson, for sharing these words of teaching and encouragement! Let go, and let God 🙂
I really need to let go of the past. I’m 60 now and made some terrible mistakes until the Lord touched me 18 years ago and saved me. Since then my son has been murdered and I have a 42 year old daughter who won’t frogive me. Sometimes I feel so alone and scared that I’ll die old and lonely.
I’fe tried everything to beg my daughter’s forgiveness and now she had started abusing my granddaughter and says it’s all my fault. I’ve got do much guilt, shame and regret as well as rejection I don’t know where to tron here but on bended knees to the Lord.
I pray your book is a success. God bless you
Worry can be an insidious sin that leads us astray from faith and trust in God alone. I find that anytime worry becomes my focus, I have tense muscles, especially in my shoulders, as well as a preoccupation with plans and schemes to deliver me from unwelcome events. It is a wake-up call to turn my eyes upon Jesus as it says in Hebrews 12:2…”Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.”
It is wonderful to read the Word of God which dispels the lies of the enemy who wants us to be twisted up by worry. Thank you for reminding me of this important truth of trusting God for my present and future needs.
Really loved this quote: “Letting go sets us free from a responsibility we can’t possibly live up to. It also sets us free from a mess of worry.” So very true!
Margaret and Amy, thank you for your gentle reminder that God’s plan and His Love are greater than our love for family and loved ones. I know this is truth yet I worry about my daughters especially when I know they are making poor choices. I am praying for them and surrendering them to Him continually, but I struggle with taking it back. My worry for them is never productive and is displeasing to my loving Father! Praying to let it go to Him!
I need to let go of so much that there’s not enough room to write in this space!!!
I constantly worry over my loved ones who aren’t living for The Lord. I get so upset that I cry often and it affects how I am around my family. This is a good reminder that God is in control. All I can do is pray for them and be a light to them. Worrying and crying isn’t going to save them. Thanks for this wonderful message today!
Thank you for this timely reminder to turn my unemployment and money worries over to God. What is too big for me right now is not too big for Him.
What are the mechanics of “letting go?” Is it as simple as reading the Bible and confessing to God that I worry and asking him to take control. I think I do this yet worry over a son who can’t find his way and finances jeopardized by a lawsuit continue to plague me. I need a “how-to” manual.
Melinda, there are many good resources out there that will help with this. My book may benefit you, as it does walk through some specific things we can do to let go and to choose faith when we’re tempted to worry. It also draws distinctions between worry, fear, and anxiety. I hope you’ll receive one of the copies Margaret is giving away!
Good stuff!
I need to let go of toxic friends
I need to let go of micro managing things around me, like my 6 year old or the organization of my house. God has given me these things to care for, but not to have a conniption over!
I worry alot but hearing that’s its a insult to God to worry makes me think its time to get in check
I worry alot but to hear its insult to God makes me want to get that under control.
I’ve dealt with anxiety/panic attacks for years. I didn’t want to take any medication because I thought it meant my faith wasn’t strong enough, but the counsel of some Godly wise women helped me understand that wasn’t true. My faith gets me through tough times and a low-dose anti-anxiety medication allows me to draw on that faith instead of spiraling into a panic whirlwind. Not the answer for everyone but the right choice for me. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book.
I would love to win a copy of this awesome book! I appreciate the opportunity!