Devotionals for the Heart: When God proves He will take care of you

When God Interrupts Your Worry
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

—1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

I looked at the pristine blue sky from my hotel window and sighed.

The vibrant scenery of my island vacation did not entirely match my mood because as bright as the day was, my mind was clouded with worry. I had just decided to resign from a stable job and try working for myself. Although I had a list of reasons why it was the right time to make the leap, my nervous imagination was already making me second-guess the decision. What if I couldn’t do this? What if it didn’t work out? Was I throwing away my security?

My anxieties ran on a loop in the back of my mind as my husband and I drove along the coastline toward town. “How about cold noodles for lunch?” I suggested to my husband, spotting a tiny restaurant on the corner of the street. We parked the car and swung open the restaurant door, eager to escape the summer humidity. As we sat down at the table, I quickly noticed the restaurant’s background music. They were playing hymns.

“The owners must be Christian,” my husband commented as we both started to hum along to the familiar tune. What was the hymn…? Suddenly, I remembered the lyrics: “God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way. He will take care of you; God will take care of you.”

I chuckled even as my eyes misted over with grateful tears. Out of all the restaurants we could have chosen, we ended up at a Christian eatery with a playlist that interrupted my anxieties. Hymns of God’s faithfulness and care continued to play in the background as we ate our lunch, and I gradually felt my heart lighten. “All you may need He will provide,” the song reminded me. “All strength you need will be supplied.”

Now, a few months later, I am preparing to launch my business. Of course, I can’t predict what the outcome will be. There are still days when my imagination is all too ready to present me with dire scenarios, but I look back at that moment in the restaurant when God interrupted my catastrophizing, and I direct my mind back to His truth.

I may not know whether I will be successful, but I do know that God will look after me somehow. I love how The Message paraphrase of the Bible words a famous passage that points us to the truth of God’s care. It says:

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:30-34 MSG).

Although I am prone to worry about the future, God seeks to bring my attention back to the moment. There are still times I am tempted to feel that by giving up employment, I have thrown away my security, but I direct my mind back to where my true security lies—in the God who has said He will never fail or abandon me (Hebrews 13:5).

It is normal for anxieties to arise when we face big life decisions, transitions, and uncertainties. Yet God wants to interrupt the worries circling around our imaginations with reminders of His care and His providence. How might He want to direct your attention toward Him today?

Let’s Pray: God, my Shepherd, I don’t know what lies ahead. I have so many worries and uncertainties that cloud my mind. Remind me today of Your kindness and care for me. Interrupt my fear with Your peace and increase my faith in Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “God Will Take Care of You” by the Heritage Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Way Maker” by Leeland ft. Sinach, Mandisa, & Maverick City Choir. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “God Cares” by Sounds of Blackness. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

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Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/