How can we turn worries and problems over to God?

TL;DR:

We can turn our worries and problems over to God because we can trust that He is good and in control and that He works all things for our good. Through prayer, we can ask the Lord for strength and wisdom in dealing with our difficulties.

what does the bible say?

The Bible shows us that we can turn our worries and problems over to God when we learn to know and trust Him. Scripture repeatedly shows that God works for the good of His children, which indicates that we should lean on Him when we are troubled (Proverbs 3:5–6; Judges 7:2–7; 1 Samuel 17:45–47). God showed this through numerous miracles, such as in Exodus, when He guided the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land (Exodus 14; Deuteronomy 29). God wants the best for His children, but this does not mean He won’t allow trials into believers’ lives. Just as God allowed the Israelites to experience hardships, He does the same in the church age (John 16:33). This is not contrary to His love and care for us since Scripture teaches that God often uses difficulties to help us grow in spiritual maturity (Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7). In fact, biblically, problems are presented as opportunities for prayer and dependence upon God (2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Philippians 4:6–7; James 5:13). God has given believers all the power needed to live for Him (2 Peter 1:3). Through it all, God will bear the burden of our troubles.

from the old testament

Exodus 14:14 describes Moses’s reassurance to the Israelites at the Red Sea that God would take care of them if they just placed their trust in Him: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

from the new testament

As Jesus expressed in John 16:33, we are not promised an easy life, but we can trust in Him who has overcome the world: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Our peace amid tribulation is based not on what we can do, but on what God can do.
As expressed in 1 Peter 5:6–7, God loves us and wants us to trust in Him by putting our troubles in His hands: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
God often uses our tribulations to encourage spiritual growth, as indicated in James 1:2–3: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

implications for today

As a child, if you ever told your parents something like, “My tooth hurts when I jiggle it,” they probably answered, “Don’t jiggle it.” Yet it’s likely you kept prodding that sore tooth anyway. We can be like that with worry sometimes. We fixate on problems even though doing so makes them worse. Like a viral video, worry thrives on how much attention you give it. Some people unload emotionally in a journal or with a therapist, but Christians have the most wonderful Counselor in our Lord (Isaiah 9:6). The Son’s counsel is to “not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Jesus didn’t promise a life of ease—just the opposite (John 16:33). But amid our trials, He advises us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Focusing on the Lord takes our focus off of our hardships. We can also unburden ourselves to Him in prayer. We can ask for a resolution, but we must realize that God allows some problems in our lives for our own benefit (Romans 8:28). Because of this, we should also pray for our Lord to give us strength through our difficulties. He loves us and is always there for us. God will bear the burden of our troubles.

understand

We can trust that God is good, in control, and works all things for our good.
We can turn our worries over to God through prayer, asking for strength and wisdom.
God often uses trials to grow us spiritually, and our peace comes from trusting in His care and power.

reflect

In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to trust God with your worries and why?
How can prayer become a more consistent practice in surrendering your concerns to God?
Reflect on a past trial that God used to grow your faith—how did He help you through it?

engage

How does understanding that God is in control change the way we approach our challenges?
How have you experienced God's peace in the midst of trouble, and what can you learn from those experiences?
How can we support each other in turning our worries over to God, especially during difficult times?

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