It will steal your joy. It will rob your peace. It is the enemy of contentment. It will enter your thoughts disguised as care and concern. Its name is
worry.
This notion of the 'joy thief' may be a hard pill to swallow for those that believe it is just part of their nature to be a worrier. When I talk to these people, I get the impression that they feel it is even noble to worry...like it adds depth to their character or something if they constantly worry. Like it will change the outcome if they just worry enough. Another thing I've noticed...they are very UNHAPPY people. And when you frame what's really going on through the lens of reality, you realize why.
Worry is worshipping the problem. Can we all agree that no good comes from problem-worship?
I've certainly been guilty of problem-worship and the consequential unhappiness. When I finally admitted to myself that I was allowing the enemy of faith to gain a foothold in my spirit, I began to recognize some triggers that lead to the internal explosion of worry. With a very intentional mindset, I have developed some strategies to help me OWN MY JOY when I am tempted to let my guard down and unwittingly let worry invade my life.
When I start fearing the unknown, it is guaranteed that worry is going to infiltrate my thoughts and feelings. When I play the "what if" game, I am suddenly overwhelmed by distress over something that hasn't even happened. Did you catch that? IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN. In fact, it probably won't happen.
When I start to become anxious about what lies ahead, I pray for wisdom and then make decisions based on staying true to my beliefs and what appears to be in the best interests of those involved. No amount of distress and despair on my part will change the future here! Taking steps forward in confidence requires faith. I like who I am and what I stand for,
so why would I bet against myself by stressing over not being able to foresee the outcome? It makes no sense.
I also choose not to dwell on disillusionment, even when I experience distrastrous disappointment. There was a time when the weight of failure crushed me... to the point where worry was my first reaction when it came to making any life-changing decision. Trust me when I say there is nothing more crippling to your spirit than this kind of mindset. Negativity and pessimism were stunting my personal growth. I had to purposefully commit to the transformation of a renewed mind
(Romans 12:2) and put a growth mindset in action.
(Angela Watson) Sometimes the result of what I hope and plan for ends up looking like an epic failure. But, instead of viewing that as the death of a dream, I now reframe and accept the truth that Plan A was not meant to be. However, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet!!! So I commence to formulating Plan B. Re-evaluate and learn from the experience.
The defeat does not define me. I choose to view myself as now being even more capable to make something out of whatever setback has taken place. Something that will help me not only 'bounce back', but 'bounce forward'.
(Shawn Achor)
A huge part in my release from worry has been adopting a spirit of abandon when it comes to my family. Not abandoning my responsibilities to care for them, but rather the abandon of freeing them from my overzealous pride and misguided overprotectiveness. Rather than prepare the path for the child, I try to prepare the child for the path.
(Jen Hatmaker) Entrusting them to a God who loves them even more than I do requires releasing whatever I have perceived as my rights as a wife and mom, to the Creator who gave my husband and kids life in the first place. In all my
bossy ways hopeful confidence and
know-it-all attitude earthly wisdom, I can get it wrong or not realize what really is the best because I am an imperfect human.
(Ugh- the truth hurts, right?!) When I sense my anxiety level beginning to rise, I put my focus and emotional energy into praising the Lord that He has already made the ultimate sacrifice for my loved ones and has the perfect plan. That plan is for their good and not destruction. (
Jeremiah 29:11) What I perceive as the biggest hurt or disappointment they may experience and try to prevent happening with all my might, could actually be the tipping point that will launch them into discovering His vision for their potential! I claim the promise that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9) I can unclench my fists that want to control and instead spread my fingers to embrace and support with empathy and love.
The thing about the joy thief is that it only has the power to steal if you allow it. You can exercise your freedom and actually choose how your energy will be focused.
Fret or faith?
Tension or trust?
Panic or peace?
Your life is too bountiful and beautiful to be marred by anxiety and agitation.
Arrest the thief. Release worry. Live in the freedom of choosing joy...because you can.
