🌒 Turn to the Father
🌒Turn to the Father
A devotional for the anxious and afraid
Dear friend,
Last night, I couldn’t sleep. My thoughts spiraled, my chest tightened, and all I wanted was relief. I almost reached for distraction.
But then I remembered Jesus in the garden. He didn’t hide His fear. He turned to the Father.
In today’s reflection, I share how that moment changed me—and how you can do the same. When anxiety rises and fear grips, you don’t have to be fearless.
You just have to be honest. And turn to the One who listens.
Let this devotional be your breath, your pause, your beginning.
With tenderness,
Tracey
.
When fear rises and anxiety grips, God is your first refuge
🌿 My Gentle Reflection
“Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering.”
—Luke 22:42 NCV
I had one of those nights.
The kind where sleep doesn’t come and thoughts won’t stop.
I kept turning over, trying to pray, trying to breathe.
But all I could feel was fear.
Not the loud kind.
The quiet, creeping kind.
The kind that makes your chest tight and your thoughts spiral.
I wanted to reach for something—anything—to make it go away.
A distraction. A friend. A fix.
But then I remembered Jesus in the garden.
He didn’t hide His fear.
He didn’t pretend to be okay.
He turned to His Father.
Before the cross.
Before the betrayal.
Before the pain.
He said, “Father, if you are willing…”
And that was enough.
He didn’t go to His disciples first.
He didn’t gather a crowd.
He went straight to the One who could hold Him.
I whispered, “Father, I’m afraid.”
And I felt held.
✨ My Scripture of Hope
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
—Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
🕊️ My Anxious Thoughts to Release
• I have to figure this out alone
• God is disappointed in my fear
• I’m too weak to be helped
🌸 God’s Promise to Me
• I can always turn to God
• He listens to my fears
• He knows what to do
• He lends me His strength
🙏 My Prayer
Father,
I’m afraid.
I don’t know how to carry this.
I don’t know what comes next.
But I trust You to hold me.
To guide me.
To strengthen me.
You are my refuge.
Amen
🧠 Gentle Tools for Taming My Thoughts
Inspired by Tame Your Thoughts, Section 5: When You Battle Anxiety, I used three mindset tools to respond to fear with trust in God’s presence.
1. 🛡️ Practice Picky Thinking
Journal Entry:
Anxiety whispered, “You’re alone in this.”
I paused.
Is this true? No—God is with me.
Is this kind? No—it isolates me.
Is this from God? No—He speaks peace.
I replaced it with: “God is my strong tower. I run to Him and I am safe.” That shift felt like shelter.
2. 👽 Identify UFOs (Unhelpful, False, Overgeneralized thoughts)
Journal Entry:
Same moment, same panic.
• Unhelpful: “I should be stronger.”
• False: “God won’t help me this time.”
• Overgeneralized: “I always fall apart.”
I named it—a UFO—and gently released it.
I reminded myself: “Jesus turned to the Father first. I can too.” That shift felt like breath returning.
3. 🌱 Uproot and Replant
Journal Entry:
That fear stirred up an old belief: “I’m too broken to be safe.”
I paused and chose to uproot it.
Is this true? No—God rescues the broken.
Is this kind? No—it shames me.
Is this from God? No—He speaks mercy.
I replanted truth: “God is my refuge. I am safe with Him.” That shift felt like being held.
💡 Section 5 Insight: When You Battle Anxiety
Max Lucado reminds us that Jesus didn’t hide His fear—He brought it to the Father.
He writes:
“The first one to hear His fear was His Father.”
That truth changed how I breathe through anxiety.
I don’t have to be fearless.
I just have to be honest.
And turn to the One who listens.
📘 Books That Helped Me Heal
• Calm Moments for Anxious Days – Amazon.ca
• Tame Your Thoughts – Amazon.ca