The Worry Jar
Releasing Anxiety
On one of my recent personal retreats, I was strongly tempted to give in to anxiety. Much had transpired leading up to that time, and abundant cares and concerns seemed to swim in my head like a school of fish confined in a man-made tank. Trapped within my mind these thoughts begged for appropriate release.
It was then I remembered something my biofeedback therapist taught me – the concept of creating what she called a “Worry Jar.”
What’s a worry jar? you wonder. It’s a place in which you can write all your “worries” and add them to the jar one by one. A way of letting them go.
It gets them out of one’s head, providing a symbolic way to release them.
On this particular weekend retreat, I decided it was time to both use the concept, and rename the jar (as you will soon see).
Anxious for Nothing
While I could just pile a load of worries into a jar and try to banish them my own, making such a choice would only be part of the path toward greater peace (or shalom).
As Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) says:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Woah. Did you catch that? How much are we to be anxious for? “Nothing.”
Nothing!
I felt on the verge of a panic attack that weekend, and what was God’s message to me? “Be anxious for nothing.”
More Than Letting Go
So, experiencing the peace of God – His shalom – comes not only in resisting anxiety (being anxious for nothing), but also in letting our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.
Moving into a place of peace with Him thus involves not only severing ties with anxiety but prayerfully submitting our requests to Him, sharing our concerns with God.
In that vein, I decided to replace the “Worry Jar” with the “Care Casting Container.”
For it’s not just about getting my worries out, but casting them on the Lord - for it is with Jehovah-Shalom that my cares have their rightful resting place.
I think of I Peter 5:7 which speaks of “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
He cares for me! He cares for you!
Sigh… (What a relief!)
So, how will you respond when cares come your way (as they surely will in this earthly life)?
How ’bout casting your cares on the Lord, submitting your requests to Him with thanksgiving? And if it helps you too (as it sometimes helps me to have a visual, tactical symbol of the internal choice I’m making), grab a jar, drop your cares inside, and give the whole kit’n'kaboodle to Jesus…for He cares for you!
Can’t wait to hear about the renewed peace you experience when you cast your cares on Jesus (with a jar or otherwise)!
Care Casting Jar
when i think of the condition we are in sometimes when we cast troubled cares upon Him….bruised, broken, distraught perhaps. those cares come to Him like broken pieces of glass or pottery, yet He takes what we give and creates a mosaic ! glad to give up the broken pieces !!
What a neat word picture…I like the idea of His “creating a mosaic out of our mess”, if you will!
If I turn my cares to Christ more would it make my worry jar like a worry envelope?
I guess if we turn them over earlier on, it helps keep us worry-free (and likely slims down our list the next time we’re in need of this casting)! Not a bad idea to intentionally turn them over to Him frequently…
Glad He’s there for that!
I have something similar called a “God Box”. I let Him take care of all my troubles. It’s nice to be reminded to use it
Love it!! Would love to hear how you came up with that idea…and what kind of box you use!
“Tashlich” means “casting off” in Hebrew and involves symbolically casting off the sins of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread or another food into a body of flowing water. I’ve adapted this tradition slightly by filling my pockets with different size rock as I walk towards a local lake. The discomfort of those rocks in my pockets is a clear reminder of the worries and cares I hold onto (sin, as I’m doubting God’s sovernity in my life). I take them out one by one, name them, and cast them into the center of the lake, watching each worry/care disappear, as far as the east is from the west.
Micah 7:18-20
Who is like You, God, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He does not remain angry forever because He desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast off our sins into the depths of the seas. Give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham, like that you swore to our ancestors from long ago.
Oh yes! Glory to God who takes our burdens for us and removes our sins – who does not remain angry forever but extends mercy and grace! Lord, let us know more fully the mercy and grace You offer us and walk ever more fully in the righteousness of Christ You offer to us. Not of our own works, but saved by grace through faith.