Has anyone ever asked you, “Why are you overwhelmed?” After some thought, you let out a big, long, hairy list and thought, “Where did all of that come from?” In Matthew 6, Jesus makes it clear that he doesn’t want us to worry, but most of us just can’t stop!
Generally, what causes us to be overwhelmed is not one issue, but 5, 15, or 100 tiny issues or unresolved feelings. We may not even realize that we slowly and quietly collect these issues and carry them on our backs. Here they rest unresolved and put a hidden pressure on us, until one day, we collapse under the weight of them all.
My friend, if you are feeling overwhelmed, there is probably a list of tiny burdens behind that feeling, and I want to share with you what to do with that list.
We must develop a habit of releasing our cares to God—the One who has the power, strength, and wisdom to properly handle them. We can do this by using a “Let Go” list.
How to use a “Let Go” List:
Step 1: Write it down.
The goal is to identify all of our concerns, worries, fears (even the ones that are hard to verbalize) and get them down on paper. Here are some categories to get the ball rolling, but if your brain starts listing them in random order, just let it!
- Relationships
- Friendships
- Marriage
- Home & Car
- Children
- Decisions to be made
- Food
- Clutter
- Extra-curricular activities
- Health
- Dreams / Goals
- Emotions
Go ahead—pause for a second and start a list now. I’ll wait.
The next step is the most important—do not stop here! Although venting is therapeutic, the full benefit comes by releasing your cares to God.
God cares for you, and He has provided a means of escape for us from the aches of life, through His son Jesus. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”(John 14:27) This is God’s heart to you! His desire for you! Believe it and receive his comfort by handing him all of those worries. Our job is not to take on our problems by our self, but to release them to the One that can help us.
Step 2: Pray and hand each one to God.
Schedule time into your day or evening to be alone for about 20 min with your list and start handing these issues over to God one by one. This may take some time, but the payoff is huge.
How do you hand them over to God? You can use this General Prayer or more specific prayer examples at the end of this post.
General “Let Go” Prayer: Lord, I give you this problem: ____________________, and I put it solely in your hands. I also release the fear and concern that is causing me harm and I bless my mind to be free and at peace from this issue. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If your list is very long, just say a sentence or two and move on. The basic idea is for you to Take the problem out of your hands and put it in God’s hands!
The more you get in the rhythm and habit of doing this, the more it will benefit your life, and I believe, your health.
Personally, I do this “Let Go” session anytime I feel like the world is collapsing on me. If I am aware that stress is building, it only takes 5 minutes, but if I don’t do it for months it may take 20 minutes. Optimally, our habits will develop, and as soon as we are confronted with a concern, we will give it to God right then and there.
Being overwhelmed is not fun and we get drained beyond what God intended for us to manage. Pray through your “Let Go” list and let Jesus be your life manager!
Example #1: Worried about your husband’s job stability
Prayer: God, I give you the concern regarding my husband’s job. I cannot control this, and I want to hand my fear over to you right now. God, I give you my husband’s job and put it all into your hands. Help me to leave it in your hands. I ask for favor in his job and bless all that he does and will do.
Ex #2 Worried about kids
Prayer: Lord, I give you my kids, and I put them back into your hands. I ask you to watch over them and tend their hearts in ways that I cannot. I ask for wisdom and grace in raising and loving them.
Ex # 3 Concerned about health
Prayer: Jesus, I receive now for my body the healing that you paid for on the cross. I ask you to touch and heal every area that causes me pain or harm. I put myself in your hands and thank you for choosing to heal me when you died on the cross.
If you found this helpful, please forward to a friend!
