My throat tightened as my feet inched their way forward on the diving board.

“Hurry up, honey,” my swim instructor kindly commanded, checking her watch.

My toes slid across the bumpy, slimy plastic and the board wavered under my chubby 8-year-old body.  I was terrified of slipping before I had the chance to properly inspect the murky water down below, which I imagined was swarming with chlorine and dead skin cells. I could hear my classmates’ breathing echo off the walls of the indoor pool. How do I hold my breath? I worried. What if I go down and never come up? What if water gets into my ears or up my nose or stings my eyes and then I accidentally take a big gulp of gross water and choke?

“We haven’t got all day, sweetie,” my instructor reminded me, tapping her foot.

Hearing my heart pound in my ears, I willed myself to stop overthinking and finally plunged headfirst into the deep end.

Resting from Your Worries

Do you ever feel like a kid learning to dive for the first time? Terrified of what might happen, worried you’ll mess it all up and get hurt?

Living in this world is scary and challenging. There’s no guidebook that tells us how to perfectly dive into every new, daunting situation. But God does tell us how to find peace and hope when we’re worried. In his Word, he promises to protect us and guide us when we’re afraid of what comes next.

If you’re feeling anxious about the future, I encourage to you take a moment to quiet your mind, grab a cup of tea, and reflect on these 5 truths from God’s Word:

God will protect you.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    I will fear no one.
The Lord protects me from all danger;
    I will never be afraid. — Psalm 27:1-2

God’s love for you is bigger than your fear.

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. — 1 John 4:18a

Nothing can separate you from God’s love.

For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

God is with you—no matter what.

The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid;
    what can anyone do to me? — Psalm 118:6

God can take your fear and give you peace in its place.

Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. — John 14:27