Let’s Be Real: It’s Time to Refocus
Alright, family, let’s have a heart-to-heart. How much time and energy do we waste stressing over things that, if we’re being honest, won’t matter one bit in eternity? If you’re like me, the answer is probably way too much.
But here’s the good news: today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. It’s like God’s personal invitation to hit the pause button on all that worrying and start fresh. This season isn’t about piling on more to-do lists or stressing about how spiritual you are. It’s about clearing the clutter from your heart and focusing on what really matters.
So, as we begin this journey together, let’s call out some of the biggest peace-stealers in our lives and see what God has to say about them. Here are ten common worries we all wrestle with—and the better things God invites us to focus on instead.
1. What Others Think of Your Faith
The Worry:
“Am I Christian enough? Do people think I’m too religious? Not religious enough? What if they judge me?”
What to Focus On Instead:
God’s opinion, not theirs. Paul nailed it when he said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10). Spoiler alert: when you stand before Jesus one day, He’s not going to ask what your coworkers thought of your faith. Your walk with God isn’t a stage performance for others—it’s a relationship with Him.
The Shift:
Replace “What will they think?” with “What does God say?”
2. Having the “Perfect” Quiet Time
The Worry:
“I didn’t pray for 30 minutes today. I fell asleep halfway through reading my Bible. Am I even doing this right?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Connection over perfection. God’s not out here grading your quiet time. A heartfelt two-minute prayer while you’re folding laundry can mean more than an hour of distracted reading. Jesus prayed in the morning, sure—but He also prayed in the middle of the day, at dinner, and in moments of need. God wants your heart, not a perfectly curated devotional routine.
The Shift:
Replace “Am I doing this perfectly?” with “Am I genuinely seeking Him?”
3. Comparing Your Spiritual Journey
The Worry:
“She knows so much Scripture. He’s always volunteering. Why don’t I have faith like that?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Your unique journey. God’s not running a cookie-cutter discipleship factory. He’s writing a one-of-a-kind story with your life, and it’s not going to look like anyone else’s. The person you’re comparing yourself to? I guarantee they’re comparing themselves to someone else, too. “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else” (Galatians 6:4).
The Shift:
Replace “Why am I not like them?” with “How is God growing me?”
4. Past Mistakes God’s Already Forgiven
The Worry:
“I can’t believe I did that. What if God hasn’t really forgiven me? Am I disqualified because of my past?”
What to Focus On Instead:
The cross. When Jesus forgives, He doesn’t keep a record of your screw-ups. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). If God isn’t replaying your greatest hits of failure, why are you? Your past doesn’t define you—Jesus does.
The Shift:
Replace “I can’t believe I did that” with “I can’t believe He forgave that.”
5. Whether You’re “Doing Enough”
The Worry:
“Am I serving enough? Giving enough? Praying enough? Am I doing enough for God?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Faithfulness over busyness. God’s not keeping a checklist of your spiritual productivity. He’s not impressed by how much you’re doing; He’s looking at your heart. The widow’s small offering meant more to Jesus than the big, flashy donations. Why? Because she gave with faith. So stop trying to do everything and focus on doing what God has called you to do.
The Shift:
Replace “Am I doing enough?” with “Am I doing what He’s asked?”
6. Church Drama
The Worry:
Who said what. Who’s on which side. Worship wars. Budget battles. Drama, drama, drama.
What to Focus On Instead:
The mission of the Church. Look, churches are full of imperfect people, so conflict is going to happen. But when we get more caught up in drama than in the mission of Jesus, we’ve missed the point. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Stay focused on the bigger picture—seeking and saving the lost.
The Shift:
Replace “Who’s wrong?” with “What’s the mission?”
7. Defending God (He’s Got This)
The Worry:
“I have to win this argument. What if I can’t convince them God is real? What if I don’t have all the answers?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Living out your faith. God doesn’t need you to be His PR manager. He’s not worried about losing a debate. Your job isn’t to win arguments—it’s to live a life that reflects His love. “Always be prepared to give an answer… but do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Sometimes, the best defense of the Gospel is letting people see it change your life.
The Shift:
Replace “I need to prove God” with “I need to reflect God.”
8. Stuff That Won’t Last
The Worry:
“Do I have the right car? The right house? Enough stuff? Am I keeping up?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Eternal treasures. Jesus said it best: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20). It’s not about living in poverty—it’s about investing in what lasts: relationships, generosity, and God’s kingdom.
The Shift:
Replace “What can I get?” with “What can I give?”
9. Being Liked vs. Being Faithful
The Worry:
“What if they don’t like me? What if I lose friends? What if I get canceled?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Pleasing God. Jesus didn’t change His message to win followers, and neither should we. “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you” (Luke 6:26). Be kind, be gracious—but don’t trade truth for popularity.
The Shift:
Replace “Will they accept me?” with “Am I honoring Him?”
10. Tomorrow’s “What Ifs”
The Worry:
“What if this happens? What if that falls apart? What if I can’t handle what’s coming?”
What to Focus On Instead:
Today’s faithfulness and God’s faithfulness. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow… Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Worry doesn’t change the future—it just steals your peace today. Look back at God’s track record. He’s never failed you, and He’s not about to start now.
The Shift:
Replace “What if…?” with “Even if… God is still good.”
The Bottom Line
Ash Wednesday reminds us of this simple truth: life is short, but eternity is long. We’re dust, but we’re dust that God has breathed His life into. So why waste our days worrying about things God never asked us to carry?
This Lent, let’s let go of one of these ten worries. Let’s redirect that energy toward what actually matters—knowing Jesus, becoming more like Him, and making Him known.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
So, what’s one worry you’re ready to release this Lent? Let’s make the trade—our worries for His peace. Let’s go, fam. 💙