When You're Worried About Loved OnesSample

A NIGHT-TIME REVELATION

One night not long ago, I suddenly woke up in the wee hours and just couldn’t go back to sleep. I admit it – I was worrying, thinking about several of my loved ones who were facing scary situations, and going through hard things in their lives.

Some situations seemed almost impossible to handle – illness, financial woes, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, children in trouble – the list goes on and on.

I began to be consumed with fear, sadness, and concern for them, imagining nothing but the worst. You know how it is in the middle of the night – everything seems darker, more overwhelming, almost suffocating. If we’re not careful, our thoughts can run rampant!

I silently cried out to the Lord, “I feel so bad for them!” And suddenly I felt like He said to me, “Get up.” So I got up, went downstairs, and opened my Bible.

As I sat down and began to look at some scriptures that always encourage me, I heard the Lord speak these words in my heart: “Yes, that is what the circumstances look like in their life. But are you going to be moved by circumstances, or by my Word? You’re worrying and feeling bad for them is not helping them at all!”

Wow! I realized instantly that imagining the worst is believing more in the circumstances than in God! And me tossing and turning in the night, feeling bad for them, and worrying wouldn’t change anything.

I had a night-time revelation: I knew I needed to pray for them instead of worrying. I needed to start believing instead of being filled with dread and worry. I needed to get over fear, take control of my thoughts, and focus on God’s promises for them.