Trust God to be totally aware of the situation about which I am worrying so much about and to do something about it - After all, you and I are so limited in such things as what we know, what we can do about what we know, where we can be, how much energy we have to expend… well, you get the picture. God is not limited in any of these ways. Ephesians 3:20 says that He is able to do far more that what we can ask or think. I can think of quite a bit… how about you? Well, God can do more than you and I together could imagine.
Care about the right things - And the right things are not things at all. Isn’t this what Jesus was trying to teach us in Matthew 6:25-34? He said not to be anxious with worry about such things as food and clothing. God takes care of the sparrows and the flowers; “Are we not much more valuable than they?”, He asks. I’m convinced that we worry too much about money and the stuff it buys, and count on such things way too much to provide our security. As Jesus counsels us in the above text, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be provided you”.
Be constant in prayer - Jesus did His best to teach us this principle too when He told us about the widow who kept going to the unjust judge until he saw to her needs (Luke 18:1-8). Jesus’ point was that God was much more trustworthy than that judge. Peter says that we should cast all of our care on God for the express reason that He cares for us, 1st Peter 5:6-7. Why worry if you are in communication with the one who not only cares the most about your troubles but is the one most able and willing to do the best things about them?
Be sure to do whatever God has placed within my power to do to effect the outcome of a matter - Proverbs 16:9 teaches us, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”. Make your plans, see to your herds (Proverbs 27:23-27 & Ecclesiastes 11:1-10). There may be something I can do to make some difference. If there is, I should do it. If there is not, I should delegate it to God.
Keep reminding myself that the nature of faith demands that I leave room for God’s part of the work - Which of course we call providence because He has shown us throughout history that He “provides” (see Genesis 22:1-14 on this). Once again, it’s not all up to me (really, very little of life is) and wouldn’t things be a mess if they were? There is a reason why family members are not allowed to witness surgeries being performed on their loved ones. There is a reason why mechanics’ shops don’t have bleachers next to the work bays. Put what you can’t do in the hands of professionals, then stand back and let them work.
Remember that what I would have happen may not be the best thing to have happen - We worry that things won’t turn out just like we want them to turn out. But who says that what you and I want would be the best thing for all involved? James 1:2 teaches us that trials and tribulations have a very important place in the growth of our faith. Would you rob anyone of that? Pave the way for your children in life and you’ll ruin them. Rather, teach them and train them to do their best with faith in God, and understand that difficulties and even failure in some areas may be the best thing for them. Faith is purified by fire (1st Peter 1:6-9). But if left up to you and me, wouldn’t we avoid the fire? God knows a better way. Trust Him.