“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV).
It was the night before my publishing meeting, but I couldn’t sleep. As exhaustion settled over me, so did the innumerable racing thoughts. Lying awake, constant what-ifs filled my eyelids like counting sheep:
What if they still don’t offer me a contract?
What if they do and I fail?
What if I’m only a one-hit wonder?
What if I can’t do this?
What if my first books suck?
What if I never get another book deal?
Can you relate? No matter the circumstance or situation, you’ve probably faced times in your life when you couldn’t sleep. Whether it was from anxiety, depression, or just good old nerves, when our minds won’t slow down, it typically means we’re preoccupied thinking about something else. And as awful as those feelings are, we need to normalize these experiences without minimizing them. Because it matters. And you matter. But those thoughts are just thoughts—they cannot actually hurt us.
In Jeremiah 29:13, we read these words: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV). Written to the exiled Israelites, these words remind us that those who seek the Lord wholeheartedly will find Him. Our efforts must be sincere, but when we reach out to Him, He does hear us, because our God is an accessible God who desires a personal, intimate relationship with each of us.
Despite our greatest fears, anxieties, and what ifs, I believe that when we cry out to the Lord, He hears us. But when we cry out, we must be honest with Him about the feelings capturing our souls.
If you’re filled with worries and a mind that won’t slow down today, I’d encourage you to name the anxiety, tension, or fear honestly. And regardless of misbelief, anxiety isn’t just worry, but a full-body experience. We can come to our Savior openly and honestly, acknowledging both the emotional and physical pain this is causing. In return, we can remove the shame: Faith and anxiety can coexist, and the Lord cares about our suffering.
Instead of beating ourselves up for feeling or continuing to wallow in our suffering, let us remember that God’s words in Jeremiah 29:13, and verses like Philippians 4:6–7 and Matthew 6:25–34, emphasize the command not to stop feeling, but to invite God into those spaces. After all, God created us, including our complex range of emotions. He knows what we’re experiencing. But again, He wants us to come to Him as we are, even if that includes a million what-ifs, anxieties, and fears.
As humans, there’s a very real tension between “don’t be anxious” and “I still feel anxious.” Especially for those of us fighting clinical mental health disorders, we may even feel shame and pressure from those who don’t truly understand. But here’s the truth: Honest faith holds both truth and struggle. Honest faith tells God, “I’m anxious,” but also says, “Please sit with me here.”
Though no one enjoys being anxious, anxiety often can reveal a desire for control, fear of the future, or even unprocessed stress or pain. The good news is that God meets us in the messy middle. He meets us right where we are, no clean-up required, right in the middle of our anxiety.
Thankfully, God’s presence is not dependent on our calmness. It’s not dependent on how we feel or our ability to calm ourselves down. No, God meets us in the spiraling thoughts, and not just the peaceful moments. He’s the Prince of Peace, bringing hope, joy, and peace itself, even when it’s hardest to feel that way physically.
This week, if you find yourself riddled with what ifs and anxieties, I encourage you to memorize Jeremiah 29:13. You can still seek the Lord wholeheartedly regardless of how anxious you might feel. And that’s a gift.
Then, try one of these practical faith-based rhythms:
• Try a Breath prayer: Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds while you mentally recite “I will seek the Lord.” Hold that breath for 4 seconds. Then exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds as you mentally recite “Even when I’m anxious.”
• Write prayers instead of thinking them: When our minds get filled with worries, sometimes the best thing we can do is write them all down. Grab a notebook or a spare sheet of paper and mind-dump it all. Answer the question: “What am I trying to control that I need to place back in God’s hands?”
• Use Grounding techniques: If you’re feeling on edge, try squishing your feet into the carpet, wiggling your fingers and toes, and breathing deeply.
• Limit inputs that fuel anxiety: If social media or TV makes you more anxious, reduce the time you spend on those devices. This is going to look different for everyone, so pay attention to what your mind, body, and soul need.
No matter what the thoughts in your mind may tell you, you’re not alone. Those thoughts might be loud, but they aren’t always true. And peace is practiced, not just instantly felt.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, in this time of anxiety, we surrender to you. Help us to seek you and your presence wholeheartedly, not just for what you’re going to do for us, but for who you are. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Milko
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 07 April 2026.
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