But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. Proverbs 1:33, ESV

Recently, I was reading through Chapter 1 of Proverbs and praying about the anxiety I was experiencing as the start of the new school year approached. My three daughters were nervous about their new classes. I was preparing to co-teach a graduate course on a new learning management system. And I was preparing to defend my dissertation proposal. All good reasons to be anxious, right?!

But as I continued to pray, God directed me back to the last verse I had just read in Proverbs 1, “……but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

I stopped and asked myself, Am I really listening to Him? Do I believe what His Word says will happen when I listen to Him? Do I really believe that (I) will dwell secure and will be at ease without dread of disaster?

As Christians, we spend time reading God’s Word, but do we really listen to what it says and apply it to our lives? Yes, it’s normal to worry that our kids will not have friends in their new classes, their bus driver will be late or mean, or our own students will not care about the course material. But do we truly believe that God has it all under control?

I want to encourage you today to keep reading and believing His Word—believe that you can live without the dread of disaster and enjoy the sense of peace that comes with resting in your Savior!

Dear Father in Heaven, You are good. Before the world existed, You existed. You are Lord over all. Thank you for Your Word. Thank you for helping us when we need help. Please forgive us when we forget to go directly to the source of wisdom—Your Word. Remind us of our need for You. Help us in our unbelief. Calm our spirits and remind us of Your promises. We love You Lord, Amen.

Copyright Ashley Rombs.

Ashley is a member and currently teaches in the School of Education at Regent University.