When You Feel the Weight of Worry

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” ESV  

“We don’t even have enough money to order a pizza?” He questioned as I intentionally stared down at my phone screen. 

Our family had just arrived home from our day, and already I was holding back tears. Looking at our bank account was a grim reminder of our reality. Once again we were down to pennies until payday which meant the answer to his question was clear.

My husband let out a long sigh when I responded, and as we helped our boys remove their coats, I could physically feel the weight of my worry. 

Have you ever felt it? 

The weight of your worry?

Worry by definition means, “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.”

In that particular moment, I was worried about actual problems like whether or not we would make it through the week with enough groceries, gas, or even an unexpected expense.

As I pulled some ingredients together, I began thinking about how I had gotten to this place of being so worried all the time. Why was my worrying so real that I could physically feel it?   

The past couple of years had brought joy mixed with sadness for this family of five. One year following the birth of our twin sons, we experienced the sudden loss of my father-in-law. I quickly found myself in the midst of the joys and struggles of caring for our three small boys, supporting my grieving husband, a full-time job, and a pile of bills. 

Oh how I wanted  to experience what David speaks of in Psalm 34:4:

“I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

David had personally been delivered by God when he was a fugitive from Saul, and narrowly escaped the Philistine city of Gath (1 Samuel 21). He most likely wrote this psalm after he made it to the cave of Adullam and was reflecting on God’s goodness. 

Something David did that I hadn’t was to seek the Lord. Finally, I poured out my heart to God. I told him about the fragile state I was in. Through my sobs I admitted that I had only worried and not come to him.

And you know what? He gently whispered to my heart, “I will take care of you.” Standing there in my little kitchen, the Lord answered me when I sought him. 

Something changed in me that day. When I started to feel the weight of worry, I would pray.

We still couldn’t get the pizza that night, but something better happened. Changes were taking place in me as he replaced my worry with his peace.

Friend, if you can feel the weight of your worry today, take heart in those ancient words penned by King David. When you seek the Lord, he will answer you and deliver you too.