Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7

This verse has been coming to my mind over and over again lately. I was up all night Friday sick from pain and nausea, and my pain worsened throughout the day yesterday. Last night my heart rate was dangerously high so I went to the ER.  I’ve always had high heart rate but never this sevete. Thankfully after several large doses of meds and antibiotics it finally slowed down. Also, while there, the doctor read my last urine culture from last week and it confirmed an infection. I could not have asked for better service in the ER. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. I’m super grateful for my parents and my cousin Laurie who went with me last night.So thankful for all they do for me.

The infection and pain are the causes of my heart rate. However, they did a couple tests to make sure my heart was okay and praise the Lord all turned out good. I’m still planning to go to Winston Salem tomorrow for my appointment with a urology specialist, but we are waiting to drive down in the morning, and not today as originally planned. All of that being said, I woke this  morning feeling very overwhelmed but that is when the Lord reminded me of this verse in 1 Peter.

So many times instead of giving our cares to Jesus, we share them with everyone else but Him. I have s tendency to be anxious and worry. My mom has always told me that as soon as I drop one worry, I pick up another. However, that is not how God wants us to live. Throughout scriptiure He makes it very clear that we should be anxious for nothing, and an example of this is found in Philippians 4:6-7.

I like the way the message paraphrase reads. It states,”Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Jesus does not find joy in seeing his children fret and suffer. He does not promise a life free of pain, but does promise to camfort and give us what we need. He delights, pursues relentlessly, and desires to give us rest. As we surrender and submit to Him our entire perspective changes. Being physically sick is hard enough without adding worry into the mix. Even though the past  few days have not been easy for me, Jesus has given me the joy and grace I need for each moment which makes my sickness seem more tolerable. As a follower of Christ, He is my first love and  the king of my heart. Instead limiting us, submitting to Christ frees us to be the people He created us to be.

Whether you are going through a season of joy or sorrow, I hope these nuggets of truth will encourage you as they have me this morning.

Thank you Jesus for comforting my soul today and for giving me peace and a reason to praise even in the hard!

That is my prayer for each of you as well.