A few weeks ago, I spent the day with the youngest of our family. We were at my grandma’s house and she wanted to spend time out in grandma’s garden. She carefully stepped along each path, making her way around the garden and through the flowers. Just as happy as one can be. She spotted a frog tucked under a plant and pointed at it giggling, saying, “Oh, that frog is so happy”.
I couldn’t help but just smile to see how delighted she was with everything around her. Just simply enjoying life. Not a worry on her mind. That all sounds pretty good to me. I want some of that uncomplicated joy and peace. How do I find that and hold on to that?
By taking a cue from a three year old, that’s how.
Bless her heart, she is thinking and experiencing life with the heart of a child and not an adult. Instead of thinking it was too hot, and it was hot, to walk through the garden, she wanted to take a moment at each step along the path. Instead of thinking about what yet had to be done that day, she wanted to enjoy the flowers. Instead of thinking something “more important” could be done in this hour, she wanted to find the frogs.
This is the uncomplicated beauty of pure peace.
She is reminding me how beautiful simple is. To enjoy the little things. Dwell in the beauty of life’s moments He has given us.
She is reminding me to live in the now. Not to worry so much about what comes next, what needs to be done, what may or may not happen, what has already happened.
She is reminding me how wonderful it is to truly be at peace.
I don’t know why, but I have always been an over-thinker, a worrier. And I know I am not alone. Why do we worry when we know He has it? Why can’t we put all our trust in Him and let it go? I even made myself a reminder. Simply spelled it right out.
Pray big, worry small, trust God.
Don’t let all that busy stuff and all those worries take away your joy and your peace. We miss so much when we do that. We miss what is right in front of us. Life goes by so quick. Don’t miss it.
When we put our full faith and trust in Him, we can live without doubt and reservations. We can live in the moments. We can find joy in the simple things. We know deep in our hearts that He has a plan and He is all we need, so we can have peace because we know that truth. So many things just don’t matter. Don’t let those things steal your peace and steal your joy.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Trust Him with it. Trust Him with all of the “it” you might have. Your worries and sorrows, your troubles and tears. It is not always easy to let things go, believe me, I get that. But that is exactly what He wants us to do.
Bring it to Him, then trust and let it go.
You think as adults that we are the ones teaching kids, but sometimes they are the ones to do the teaching.
Leave a Comment
Michele Morin says
From one “over-thinker” to another: thank you for six words that beautifully summarize half the New Testament! I want to join you in this quest to “Pray Big. Worry Small. Trust God.”
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I am grateful to know I am not alone, Michele, and so happy to know you want to join this quest!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Jennifer,
Boy am I an “over thinker”. I can analyze the guts right out of every thought. Part of it come from having OCD (I tend to obsess on things), but part of it is laying my burdens and anxieties at the foot of the cross only to pick them back up and mull over them some more. Pray Big. Worry Small. Trust God. I love this. Oh how I think God’s heart yearns for us to simply things. When He created The Garden of Eden, He didn’t have in mind Adam and Eve running helter-skelter all over the place “doing” and “worrying”. No, He created a beautiful place for them to enjoy, take delight in, and to simply be in His presence. Joining with you in simplifying and being present in the wonderful moments He blesses me with. That, I believe, brings Him the greatest joy. Terrific post and much needed reminder!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh yes, Bev! I do think it brings Him the greatest joy and that is why I hope I can do better at it! Happy to know I am not alone in my “over thinking” tendencies. We can work on it together!
Abi B says
This comment has just blessed me so much. I have OCD too and am a major over thinker. Really sucks sometimes, so I get it. But God is so using this limitation of mine to shape me and strengthen me towards grace and trust. Thanks for sharing it made me feel quite not alone today ❤️
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Abi,
You are definitely NOT alone!!
((Hugs)) from one OCD overcomer to another….you have a terrific attitude!
Bev
Marianne says
I wishI had read your words two years ago. I overthought a decision,, and regret it with deep heartache to this day. Pray that it be God’s will to bring it back around for a second chance.
Thank you for your writings today
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh I am sorry to hear that, Marianne. That is hard to carry something like that with you for so long. Praying that He helps you find peace in the situation, whatever that is meant to be.
Kelly R Smith says
Such a timely reminder for me! Childlike faith can be hard when we are *so good at handling life* (*I say with sarcastic font!). Like a child, I need less planning and more abiding.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
That makes me laugh because it is so true! We sure do think we have it, don’t we? Amen to more abiding! Right there with you, Kelly!
Elizabeth says
Wow! This is what God is teaching me..John 15 abiding in GOD is key. Planning is what I like best and when it is not going to plan, then it falls apart. Peace. Joy. Living in the moment. Yes please.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Yes! One of my favorite words, Elizabeth… abide!
Temetreon R Roberts says
Beautiful reminder! I gave “it” & “them” to Him, fully trusting while I enjoy life! This peace is mine, He gave it to me and I’m not giving it up!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh that is so encouraging to hear, Temetreon! Thank you so much for sharing!
Kathy Cheek, Devotions from the Heart says
Jesus wanted us to have a childlike faith, and I think He would also want us to have a childlike joy!
I have never looked at a frog and thought they looked happy. But I did talk to my flowers on our patio yesterday and I thought they looked like they were smiling at the sun and that brought me joy. Some of that simple joy that put a light step in my walk.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I can just feel the joy from that moment, Kathy. Simple joys… such a gift!
Natalie says
Thank you for this. I’m an incessant worrier, and this article was a great reminder.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I am so happy I could be a reminder to you, Natalie! I am certainly working on it myself!
Beth Trissel says
Beautiful. Children have much to teach us. True wisdom.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
They certainly do, Beth! Thank you!
Danielle Bernock says
“You think as adults that we are the ones teaching kids, but sometimes they are the ones to do the teaching.” So true! It’s amazing what we can learn from them if we will be teachable. I was so deeply touched by things my one grandson did last year that I wrote about it calling him my eight-year-old mentor.
And that scripture – Philippians 4:7 – I use it daily in a different translation where it says God’s peace will control how we think and feel. I’m so thankful for His help.
Thank you for sharing!!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh I love that your grandson was your eight-year-old mentor! That is such a beautiful thing, Danielle. Definitely a scripture we can remind ourselves of daily!
Ingrid says
Thank you for this very relevant reflection.
I prayed for help with this problem a few years ago, when my divorce had me terribly unsettled. After study and searching, I distilled it to three simple words that I tried to remind myself of several times each day:
Invite.
Surrender.
Trust.
I was having trouble inviting Jesus into my life, my worries; trying to take care of things myself. Reminding myself to invite Him into each day, surrender my worries to Him, and trust that He had it was a great help in shifting my perspective.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
That is really beautiful, Ingrid. And I could see how much that would help shift perspective. Thank you so much for sharing that!
Tamara says
I love this. I teach preschool and LOVE their simple faith! So refreshing and such lovely energy to be around. I just put up a wooden sign in my house “Pray BIG, worry small, TRUST GOD, love people, LAUGH MORE, stress less, HAVE FUN, live free.. NOW I have to read it daily, believe it daily and live is daily. thank you for the reminder (it doesn’t do me ANY good if it is just a sign and not something I humbly read/do everyday.)
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I can just imagine how refreshing being around that simple faith is, Tamara! And thank you for the reminder when we see/read these signs that we also have to do. I love that!
Theresa D'Auria says
I think that God knew that His children would be the kind of people that would have anxieties and worries about life. Look at Adam and Eve they were looking for new foods to eat when the devil tempted them with a food that wasn’t for them.
After they ate the forbidden fruit that’s when they began to worry about life and they hid from God. But God being a loving father still loved His children so He made a plan for His Son Jesus Christ to come down to earth as a baby boy and later die on the cross for us.
What a wonderful loving God we have who cares about us. Praise God now and forever.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Couldn’t agree more, Theresa! What a loving and faithful God we have. So blessed. So grateful.
Penny says
Thank-you Jen this was deeply touching. I imagine your Gramma must of been thrilled by your daughter’s delight in what she’s created. What I had in mind was to leave our yard open so children could run freely, watch the sunflowers reach for the sky, pick fresh raspberries, and come October, hopefully pumpkins. But still I worry, and it hasn’t changed anything. I need to stop, and just trust it’s in the most capable of all hands, God’s.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Jennifer Studio JRU says
She sure was thrilled by our niece’s delight! Your idea sounds just wonderful, Penny! I can picture it! And I am totally with you, worrying doesn’t change anything, so I need to trust more.
Penny says
Jen,
I’m so sorry for the error, by mistakenly calling your niece your daughter. Thank-you so much for your gracious reply.
Have a blessed day,
Penny
Jennifer Studio JRU says
No apology necessary, Penny! I didn’t even notice that I hadn’t specifically said my niece, so you had no way to even know!
Beth Williams says
Jennifer,
Jesus said we need to have the faith of a child. Adults worry & obsess over many things. Life would be so much easier if we just “Pray Big, worry small & trust God”. He knows the plans He has for us–so why sit & fret over things. I’m bad to worry about past mistakes & failures. God is teaching me that I can learn from mistakes & that no one is perfect. I read a devotional by Max Lucado about s 5-year old who told dad “I can’t wait until I wake up.” Oh, for the attitude of a five year old! That simple uncluttered passion for life! The philosophy that reads Play hard, laugh hard and leave your worries to your father. –I think that sums it all up!
Blessings 🙂
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh I love that, Beth! Yes… to have that kind of attitude! Thank you so much for sharing. That is such a sweet thought!