{"id":89512,"date":"2025-11-30T22:36:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T06:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/club31women.com\/?post_type=devotional&p=89512"},"modified":"2025-11-30T16:46:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T00:46:55","slug":"how-god-restores-a-heart-that-tries-to-do-everything-alone","status":"publish","type":"devotional","link":"https:\/\/club31women.com\/devotional\/how-god-restores-a-heart-that-tries-to-do-everything-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"How God Restores a Heart That Tries to Do Everything Alone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear\u2026 -Psalm 46:1-2<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lifetime of broken trust and abandonment tends to teach a person to rely on herself and close herself off. Even to God.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Discover<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d gotten to a place where, after walking through the fire, I was hesitant to be happy because I was afraid something bad would happen again. My walls were up and they were high and thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I worried that if I didn\u2019t hold it all together, I would fall apart. The problem with walls is that they not only protect things from getting in but also from getting out. I struggled to trust others, and as a result, I struggled to give of myself, to serve and be available for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t need people to pray for me because there was already plenty of need. Also, I didn\u2019t want to be a burden. I also didn\u2019t want to lay bare all my struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing myself off felt safe, but it was a false security and it came with a cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hidden Cost of Self-Reliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why do we do this and how can we learn to release the need to hold onto control?
We often fear disappointing others and we feel responsible for everyone else\u2019s well-being. As moms, that\u2019s not hard to do. But even as our kids grow into young adults, we can struggle to release that tension. In many ways, our job is done, but we continue to hold on so we can feel like we still have a sense of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As women, we have this belief that it\u2019s all on us to remain strong for everyone else. But friend? This was never a responsibility God gave us to carry. He wants to be the one to be our strength \u2014 and everyone else\u2019s. But we struggle to trust that God can do it as well as we can when, in fact, He can do it better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God never asks us to be our own savior nor anyone else\u2019s. This type of self-reliance slowly drains our joy, peace, and connection with people as well as God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This striving leans into straining, and eventually it hurts us.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Discover<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What God Does in a Weary, Over-Responsible Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. He reminds us we are held.<\/strong>
    \u201cBlessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 68:19<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The good news is, we don\u2019t have to manage everything, including other people\u2019s choices or emotions. When we shift this burden back onto God\u2019s shoulders, He restores peace to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. He softens what control has hardened.<\/strong>
      \u201cI sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.\u201d <\/em>Psalm 34:4<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      We often cling to control because of fear but when we seek Him, He meets fear with tenderness. The secret is, we need to be intentional about seeking Him and releasing this control to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. He strengthens us through dependence.<\/strong>
        “But he said to me, \u2018My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.\u2019 Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me<\/em>.” 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        I get it. Sometimes we want to hold on to control because we fear what God may do with what we give Him. \u201cWill He ask more of me than I have to offer?\u201d<\/em> Whatever He asks of you, He has equipped you for through His own strength. His strength is meant to carry you in the things you can\u2019t manage on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He never asks us to carry everyone or everything from our family or circle on our shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. He renews joy where pressure lived.<\/strong>
          “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”<\/em> Psalm 51:12<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Once we release that weight, that sense of control we fear will make everything fall apart if we let it go, we begin to understand the freedom God wants us to walk in. With it comes an unprecedented joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Holding onto things mentally and emotionally doesn\u2019t change their outcome. In fact, holding too tightly could only make things worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Trust that God has you and every person in your circle of care. He knows what they need better than you. And guess what? He knows what you need, too\u2014even better than you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          A Practical, Heart-Level Shift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          One practice that has really helped me make a shift into releasing control is journaling my prayers. I write down what\u2019s weighing me down and leave it on the page. Leaving it there is a tangible way for me to leave it with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If you find yourself carrying the weight again, write it down and release it again. But don\u2019t just release it, write out a verse that reminds you God doesn\u2019t intend for you to carry what\u2019s His to manage. Pray God\u2019s Word back to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Here are a few verses to get you started:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” <\/em>John 15:11<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
            I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”<\/em> Isaiah 41:10<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”<\/em> Psalm 73:26<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” <\/em>Psalm 34:17-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Restoration is a process and not a performance. God meets us right in the middle of the overwhelm, not after we\u2019ve fixed it–or tried to. God never meant for you to walk alone.<\/p>\n\n\n