I’m a worry wart. I like to say it comes naturally since my grandmother was a worrier. It’s just what she did. She said it was her way of loving us and praying for us. She just sat around and worried about us. She worried about the weather and our health. She worried about us every time we got in the car to go somewhere.
I don’t spent time worrying about the weather or dreaming up horrible things that could happen to my family members. But I definitely worry about things that are beyond my control. I guess that’s why I worry at all in the first place. There are so many things that are completely beyond my control and I don’t like to feel out of control. So what else can I do but worry?
This house selling process has really consumed me lately. I spend time wondering when our house will sell and worrying about what we can do to help it sell. It worries me that I have no idea where we’ll be living in a year. Maybe we’ll still be in our house. Maybe it won’t sell by then.
Since our house has been on the market we have seen two other houses that we’ve loved get sold to other buyers. Every time this happens I worry a little more.
When I have a free moment, I start looking at houses. I start looking around at what I can do to make our house more attractive to a buyer. I lose sleep because I’m just worried. It’s incredibly ridiculous.
I know that this is all a test of faith. Not testing whether or not I believe in God. But it’s testing whether or not I believe that God is in control of all of this. Whether or not I believe that He has this covered and He knows exactly where we’ll be and exactly who will buy this house. He’s probably protecting us from something or waiting for the person who is meant to live in this house to move here. I don’t know. But I definitely need to be more trusting.
I need to stop wasting my time worrying and wondering about what will happen. I don’t have a crystal ball. There is no point in me spending any energy on this. I can only do what I can do– and that is to make sure my house is clean when someone wants to see it. I can do that.
And I can pray. Every time I worry, I just need to give it to God.
When I put all of my thoughts in one space like this I can see just how ridiculous it is. It’s so ridiculous that I’m spending time worrying about where we will live when we already have a very comfortable home. We have a roof over our heads. We have relief from the hot days and warmth on the cold days. And why do I continue to worry about things that are beyond my control?
I spent a lot of time last week reading the posts by the Compassion bloggers who were in Tanzania. I even sponsored a boy in Tanzania after I read this post. This boy doesn’t have perfect living conditions by American standards. But he built his home with his hands and he is proud of his home because it provides relief from the outside. He is joyful in what he has. He’s joyful because he is absolutely 100% confident that he has all he needs because of the Lord.
(We’re sponsoring a boy named Hosea. I chose him because he was a boy, and as a boy mom I have a heart for helping to grow boys into Godly men. And I also chose him because his named stood out to me. The story of Hosea in the Bible is one of patience and complete faith. As soon as I saw Hosea’s name, I knew he was the one for our family.)
Talk about completely convicting me in the middle of this process. Our house will sell when the right time comes. And I know God is teaching us something in this process. Right now I’m praying that I will stay faithful and patient and just trusting of His plan.
I’m sure that I will struggle with worry until I am old woman. I know many of you have bigger things to worry about than what I’m describing here with our house. But I know that God has all of our struggles in his hands and he is loving each of us and wants to take these burdens from us.
What consumes you? Are you a worrier?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
I have a problem with worrying and I have also inherited it from my Grandmother, who still calls me to ask me if I took my vitamins and calcium pills ;). Love her so much! I just read Ephesians 6 today and your post reminded me of it. It’s hard for me to remember that our faith is our spiritual shield against the darts of the evil one. We can shield every worry, every fear, with our faith. God has promised us that in His word. Problem is sometimes I think my faith is WAY smaller than a mustard seed lol.
I have come to realize that the more I take leaps of faith in my prayer life, I realize the more it grows and it does get easier to shield my mind with my faith by meditating on the promises of God. It’s so much easier to say it than actually DO it for me. I can very easily fall back into my old habit of just worrying. I sometimes wonder why I even spend the time worrying because it doesn’t accomplish anything, except give me a headache and make me paranoid.
I love that you are sponsoring a child from Compassion International! What an awesome organization! Hosea is such a beautiful name and that book is full of the promises of the Lord! You inspire me! I’m going to be talking to my husband now about sponsoring a child. Thank you for sharing your heart about this.
Our house has been on the market for almost a year, EEK! And I am often consumed with worry. We are trying to move closer to my husbands job, so it’s what I consider a “cosmetic” move. Our current house is a wonderful house so I have put my faith in the Lord. I believe those houses that we looked that, which have since sold, were just not in God’s plan for us. We just have to remain faithful. As we worry 🙂
I am a worrier. I also got it from my Grandma. As far back as I can remember, she carried a worry stone in her pocket and it was so smooth and shiny. It really seemed to help her sometimes. I worry about everything – sometimes I think I drive my husband nuts! Thank you for reminding me that I need to get better at handing it over to God.
I have always been a worrier, especially at night, when everything is quiet. My mind starts ticking through my concerns like a list. But, I’ve tried to make a conscious effort in the past several weeks to hand those over to God, and trust in His plans for our lives.
I too am a worrier. I am a firefighter and for some weird reason it makes me doubly worried about my own family! Here is a quote I read this morning that I thought was appropriate.
Come what may to the dearest ones we have on earth, God and his upholding grace will be there, and He cares for them more than ever we could do. An earnest conmmendation to His love will avail them more than all our fretting.” -H.L. Sidney Lear.
Oh Erin, thank you so much for this post-it really got me choked up! I also worry, and it is so frustrating. Does it ever bother Todd? My fiancee is always saying, “Don’t worry!” and he has helped me to be a little more laid back, but of course the most helpful thing is to pray. I am getting married on Saturday, and our priest told me something that really stuck with me. He said, “Worrying doesn’t seem to help much, does it?” and it’s the truth! I understand where you’re coming from with the house problem, that things really could be worse, but it’s all relative! I am not so worried about the wedding, more so about the fact that we are moving 3 days after the honeymoon and then have to find jobs! But the Lord always provides, and reminds me never to be afraid. Thank you for sharing the Word with me this morning, I have been reading your blog for almost 4 years right now and hope to be a wife and mother like you!
I tend to be a worrier too, but I have really learned to hand it over to God during some particularly trying years (we tried to have a baby for 6 years, so this definitely made me worry). Two of Nester’s posts really spoke to me last week too. After reading her post about the blue nail polish and one by Kelli Stuart too, we sponsored a little girl in TZ. It was something that had been on my heart for a while and I just kept putting it off.
To me, it’s always neat to be able to look back at things after something has happened and to be able to see God’s hand in it, and how His timing is perfect. It’s normally hard for me to see it while it’s going on, probably bc I’m too worried about it. I hope your house sells quickly, we’ve sold two homes in the last four years so I know the pressure you feel!!
I feel the same way. With our move to the upstate there are so many unknowns. I know God is pushing me to believe He has it all taken care of although it’s really hard to let go of the (unnecessary) worry.
I actually got my worrying gene from my great-grandmother and grandfather. The funny part is, I worry less about the ‘big stuff’ and safety than I do the small things sometimes. My husband is the most relaxed and worry-free person on the planet, so at least he balances me out.
I just wanted to chime in and say I get this. I SO get this. We just sold a house and are building another one. Living in an apartment in the interim and actually moving into a hotel this weekend. The fact that we are building a home we love is SUCH a blessing- a luxury- and yet I am consumed with anxiety by this process.
Even when I logically KNOW that my worries are not warranted, or don’t make any difference, it’s like I can’t “logic” myself out of them. People have very real things to worry about, and I am consumed by THIS? This process is the first time in my life I have ever really struggled with anxiety and I feel like I am praying non-stop for God to lift the weight and help me gain perspective. But still… it goes on.
I’ll be thinking of you and knowing how frustrating the battle with worry can be.
As someone who worries all the time about EVERYTHING (and has a habit of letting my mind go to the worse possible scenario), I constantly have to look to Mat 6:34 and Luke 12:25 especially…been reading your blog for years and love it…can tell you how many times your posts have been a huge help for me :)!
Ugh…I am SUCH a worry wart! It’s such a curse. I, too, inherited it from my grandmother. It really sucks a lot of joy out of life when you are constantly consumed with worry. This post really struck a nerve with me this morning…I needed to read this. It came at a perfect time, as I am headed off to the pediatrician with my 4 year old son in the next hour. With kids, comes worry. It’s part of the territory. Good luck with the house. You will find the one that’s meant to be. I have no doubt! 🙂
Ohhh goodness this post speaks to me. I’m in the middle of a transition as well and I have to beat myself over the head with Bible verses like the one at the end of your post. But it really has been helpful to remind myself of what you said, I have a roof over my head, I have a job, and when I move I will have a roof over my head, and I will have a job, and I am going to be where God wants me wherever I end up. My worrying is really not trusting God that His will for me is what’s best for me, I think I have better plans. I have everything I truly need, and I am worrying about things that are really only wants, when I’m honest with myself. Thanks for the reminder Erin!
Oh, sweet cousin, bless you! I was about to comment that it {worrying} must be unique to our family but then I read all the above comments and realized that it’s a pretty universal thing!
Hang in there, the house will sell soon enough.
You asked what we worry about. I worry about our soldiers. These past 3 weeks have been REALLY TOUGH for our community – 3 deaths and a catastrophic injury (loss of 3 limbs). I worry about their families and I worry how these casualties will impact the their fellow soldiers remaining who are trying to do a very tough job. Also, I worry about my husband’s current job & that he may be deployed next year. 🙁
Oh, Erin! I’m so glad I’m not the only one. My husband lost his job in December and since then, it seems to be 1 bad thing after another. I walk around all day waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m trying to remain joyful and praise God for this situation because I know it is all for His glory. I’m the daughter of a tremendous worrier and I’ve seen how great worry can affect a person physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m praying for you and your home situation. Blessings to you and your family!!
I keep that Bible verse in my wallet and read it when I’m anxious about something. Your house is beautiful, and you’re right — it’ll all happen when God is ready. Patience is my problem, so I understand how you’re feeling! 🙂
Erin, I stublmed across your blog some time ago, and although I never comment, I felt the need to do so today.
I am a huge worrier. I worry if after college and grad school I will find my dream job, if I’ll marry and have kids, if I’ll be able to be successful like my parents. If I’ll even own a home! I guess the thing that I try to remember is that God has already written our story so therefore I don’t need to worry because the outcome is already written for me. I just need to be patient why the story plays out!
Praying your house sells soon!
I too am a worrier! Have been all my life. Just like my dad, and my grandmother before him. I struggle with worry on an almost daily basis and have to remind myself that worry truly shouldn’t be part of my life as a Christian. My faith in Jesus should be enough to calm any fears or anxieties that I have – but sometimes it’s so hard! It’s good to know that I am not the only one, because sometimes it really gets me down. Thanks for sharing!
Oh . . . this makes so much sense to me. I’m a worrier too, and God has been working with me on this for quite some time. I’ve pretty much decided that it may take my whole life, but I’m going to push forward to a worry free life. I know it’s not entirely possible here on this earth, but I also know that each step forward is a step in the right direction.
Our house selling process has consumed me as well… I think about whether I will be a bad mom if we are moving with a newborn, and how long we will be in this house… and then I stop and pray that I quit worrying so much and know that when the time is right and the right buyer comes along we will move. I am a big planner, and I like to know what is coming…. you NEVER know what is coming when you are selling your house and buying another. My favorite one just sold to someone else this weekend. Oh well… guess it wasn’t meant to be ours. I know exactly how you feel. You want to be able to picture what your life and family will be like in a year. But, it does calm me to know that God knows… and he always does a perfect job. 🙂
I am a worrier too!! Right now it is when are we going to be able to move out of this apartment and into a house.. We were supposed to move last summer. Things fell through on a house we loved so decided to take a break and rent for a year. Well right after that house fell through, I became pregnant! When we decided to buy a house again we decided we were so thankful we didn’t get the house we loved because it was at the ceiling I our price and my daughter would have been in awful schools. Now we are looking at a lower price range (which this price range is very popular and that’s frustrating too because houses aren’t lasting long).
But isn’t it funny that God has a sense of humor.bof course He knew I was pregnant and He knew our finances!! He is always taking care of us. Sometimes I wish He would just give us a glimpse into what we are waiting for!! But that just means we have to be patient and trust completely/daily that he is in control!!
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Just like my own grandmother, I too am a worrier. It’s funny because I always joke that the anxiety gene skips a generation since my mom is very laid back. Looking at the other comments, maybe there’s some truth to that. Hopefully that means my daughter will not be plagued with it. Accepting the things we cannot control can be so difficult, but realizing that sure helps sometimes. As does prayer.
Best of luck with selling your house and finding your dream home! It will happen. 🙂
Oh man, my sister and I are huge worriers! Did I turn the oven off? Unplug the flat iron? Is my child learning at the appropriate rate? Ha. I don’t think it ever ends! I have turned to praying & exercise, which have both helped a lot. I bet the house will sell soon since summer is right around the corner. 🙂
I think everyone is a worrier, to some degree. A friend sent me this quote on this exact topic yesterday, and I thought I would share: ” “I’ve often thought it was ironic that I have actually trusted God for my salvation and my eternity, yet I struggle so much to trust Him with the details of my life.”
I often find that I can “snap out of it” and trust more when I am praying for someone/something much bigger than my problems. Not that all of our worries aren’t legitimate; they are. But I find that praying for someone in desperate need has sometimes helped me hand over my worry better. Lately I have been praying for this sweet family – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lblack If she can turn her worries over to God, then so can we!
I, too, am a worrier. Our house is also for sale (has been since February), so right now, a lot of my worrying is about that. I also worry about getting pregnant with Baby #2. A lot of things in my life are up in the air right now. Sigh.
I used to worry a lot more than I do now. I think getting older and being a stay at home mom helped me become less of a worrier… however, I tend to stress out really easily if my plate is too full (or filling up fast). I don’t handle pressure and stress and a hundred things going on at the same time very well. It’s really tough to be worry-free, but I think you’re so right about praying every time you worry. That’s what I strive to do. I can’t let my worry or stress consume me and take over in my brain, I have to pray… a lot… and quote Scripture… and pray some more. You are not being ridiculous, by the way! It’s something a lot of us struggle with and since you decided to blog about it we all know we’re not alone. =)
I am way too anxious. But I think that– strangely enough– admitting and owning that very fact has helped to ease it in my situation. Because once I recognize that I’m worrying, I can consciously choose to focus my energies on– as you pointed out so well– what I CAN control. The verse at the end of your post is very apt for me right now. Thanks for that.
It’s absolutely absurd how much I worry! I am a big ball of anxiety 99.9% of the time. I have also been fretting over house worries. We are in a house we like with a great opportunity to buy it despite our poor credit. However, it isn’t the RIGHT house for us. Then again, it’s a rare affordable bedroom in our school district. The other houses in our district leave something to be desired. So then I start thinking we should move to another district. So of course I start worrying about switching schools. I go around and around with stuff like this. I hate having anything up in the air!
I’m a worrier too, and I needed to read this post today! Actually I just got home from Sonic where my bumper just got dented while I was parked! I’ve been worried about getting it fixed while I know I need to be grateful that it wasn’t worse and that no one got hurt! This is so small compared to other things! Thanks for this post!
i worry about getting pregnant. i’ve only shared my desire for children with my closest friends (and now here…were i’m anonymous) because i KNOW people will tell me: “stop worrying…it’ll happen”. i think about it so much lately that i’m *sure* my stress level (about getting pregnant and about several other recent life changes) IS a factor. then i get mad at myself because i’m the one keeping myself from my own heart’s desire. then i begin to question God’s will for me…and whether children are in His plan. then i give up and try to make peace with it…get on with my life…count my blessings, you know? then i see a baby or a pregnant woman and it starts again. i kick myself for not marrying my husband sooner (my uncertainty about being a second wife and step mom held me back) because i’d probably be pregnant by now…. and round and round it goes. all i know is that all this worry keeps me from (a) being fully present and (b) keeps away with the Lord. thanks for the reminder to turn to Him. though truth be told, i worry that if i turn to Him (about this), the answer will be “no”….and that i couldn’t bear it. sigh….
While you may think it seems silly to worry about the house stuff, I’m right there with you. We’re putting out house on the market next week…coincidentally I’ll be 36 weeks pregnant at the time. If/When it sells, I’ll be moving to our next location just me and the 3 kids (and 3 dogs) for a few months while my husband finishes up his position here before he starts his next job.
It has been a roller coaster since the holidays on if we were moving or not. Thankfully I’ve come to terms with the idea that I’m not in control and I will make what ever happens work, but the part I stress about is the part I actually do control–cleaning the house.
They say buying/selling a house is one of the most stressful times people go through.
You are not alone in your worries…I for one can relate.
Yes yes yes I worry too much! Health, family, life etc. it can consume me:( I just started taking Buspar due to some current stress and now that I’m on it I feel soooo much better!! I sometimes feel guilty for taking something but now I know I needed it!! I too am a believer and prayer does help;))
uhhhhh my gosh, thank you! I needed this reminder sister! We’re on the opposite side of this, we’re trying to buy our first home, and I swear to you I just told my husband, “we’re neeeeeever going to find a house”.
But you’re right, it is ALL a matter of faith and trust. So, thank you 🙂
Ann Voskamp gives such great perspective on worrying in her book “One Thousand Gifts.” I would not even try to quote her but I remember that she says something about worrying being the easy way out, being lazy, being undisciplined in our walk with Christ. Those were hard words for me. And, yes, I have stressed over house-selling immensely 🙂
About 1 1/2 years ago, we were to the point of being desperate to find the right house for us. Our lease was up on our apartment, and I was SO READY for a house! We had been looking for 6 months, and after 5 different houses falling through (After offering OVER full price on all of them) we were beyond frustrated and annoyed. It is amazing to look back now that we are all settled at how wrong all those houses were. Several had serious problems that the sellers had not disclosed, and we would have lost our earnest money 4 different times if the offers had gone through!
You are not alone Rin! I constantly worry about when I will FINALLY get a teaching job, will my boyfriend ever put a ring on it, and will I be to old to have babies by the time he does? Stupid stuff that I have no control over, but consumes me because I thought I would not be where I am at this time in my life. Hang in there!
I don’t comment often on your blog, but I am an avid reader and just wanted to say how much I enjoy your posts. I know I don’t know you personally, but you seem like a woman I could really be friends with in my day to day life and I often find myself feeling as if I could write a lot of your posts word for word. I too am a total worry wart, often my husband finds it a bit frustrating because I put so much stock in things that are out of my control and it causes me a lot of time and stress thinking about them. It has only gotten worse since having a baby, but I really try hard not to compare her to every other little girl out there and compare myself to those mothers. I have really been trying hard to give it all to God (easier said than done), but I really felt comforted by your words and nice to know I am not the only one.
Hang in there Erin, it will all happen in God’s time. We just spent the past two years trying to sell our house and I can totally relate to watching what I thought was our perfect home sell to someone else many times along the way. BUT, two years later we have now sold our home and have purchased the home God had in store for us all along, we just didn’t know it yet. I know how frustrating it must feel, but keep the faith, He will provide!
I worry about money. I’m not an extreme couponer or a super penny pincher but I constantly have an idea on how much we’ve spent in our budget, i break out my calculator on a regular basis and I try really hard to only spend my “fun money” each paycheck. If I go over one month, I take away the next month. Drive my husband a little crazy and sometimes causes me anxiety. I’m trying to get a little better, after all, it’s only money right? But it’s hard :-).
This is my issue, too; I’ve heard it’s a sin to worry…. but for ME, worry is what points me to the Lord and prompts me to get out of bed in the middle of the night to pray and read God’s Word….. My husband is the opposite; he’s completely happy-go-lucky and has utmost faith in God to work it ALL out…. but I wonder if I’d spend the time with God that I do if I didn’t worry.
IMO, worry isn’t a bad thing if it points you to the Truth.
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