Handing your worries over to God: how to let go of what you ruminate on
There are worries that circle in your head for hours: a bill, a diagnosis, an argument, an uncertain future. We worry as if, by thinking about it enough, we would solve the problem. This quest invites you to do something else: lay it down.
What it looks like in your day
Handing a worry over to God is not a feeling, it is an act. Here is a method in four steps:
- Name it. Write or say precisely what worries you: “I'm afraid I won't finish the file on time.”
- Distinguish what depends on you from what doesn't. For the file, you can get organized and ask for help. For your boss's reaction, you have no power.
- Lay it down. Tell God: “I hand this worry over to you. I do my part, the rest is yours.” You can open your hands or write the worry on a piece of paper that you place under a Bible.
- Replace. When the worry comes back (and it will), you bring it back to God with a simple sentence: “I gave it to you.”
If you are short on time, a lightning version: one worry, one sentence, ten seconds. If you have many worries, don't try to lay them all down at once: take the one that weighs most today. If you are the type to ruminate at night, keep a notebook near your bed: write down what is going around in circles, and say “It's yours” before closing it.
What the Bible says
Peter sums it all up in one sentence that you can learn by heart:
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
“Casting all your care upon him”: the image is that of a weight you set down. And the reason fits in one word: “for he careth for you”. The foundation of handing over is God's care for you.
Paul gives a method that resembles ours:
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
He doesn't say “Don't feel anxious anymore”: he says how to deal with it. You present your needs to God, with gratitude, and peace comes to keep your heart and mind, like a sentinel. The psalm also says:
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Jesus himself teaches us to look at the birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-27), not to deny needs, but to invite trust. And the psalmist testifies that God's comforts soothe the inner self when thoughts are agitated (Psalms 94:19).
Pitfalls to avoid
Denying the problem. Handing over to God doesn't mean acting as if everything were fine. You can be honest with him about your fear, your anger, your weariness.
Staying passive. Concrete worries sometimes call for action: calling the bank, making an appointment, having a conversation. Handing over doesn't excuse you from acting, it lets you act without panic.
Believing peace will be immediate. Sometimes peace comes after several days, or in several waves. Each time the worry comes back, you lay it down again. It is not a failure, it is a practice.
Not talking to anyone. Some worries exceed our capacity: constant anxiety, lasting insomnia, dark thoughts. If that is your case, talk to a loved one, your pastor or your doctor. Prayer is not a substitute for professional help.
Tonight, name a worry out loud, open your hands, and simply say: “It's yours.”