by Lindsey Brackett @lindsbrac

Recently, I returned home from leading critique sessions at the inaugural North Georgia Christian Writers Conference. We had an amazing retreat right in my backyard—the lovely North Georgia Mountains.

But, as I prepared to offer a short word at breakfast on Sunday morning, I knew so many of these conferees—first time attendees to ANY conference—would be leaving for home energized, excited, and overwhelmed.

We worry too much.

The best words ever written (well, spoken, I suppose) tell us about these feelings. About these worries we let spiral out of control.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

Do not worry about your food…

When I travel, I stock the fridge and make dinners ahead.

Upon my return home, I’m usually behind in my everyday jobs, and I find myself worrying—when will I get to the store? I need to eat only salad because of all the conference chocolate! I don’t have time to meal plan and write a book proposal…

Actually, food is not the worry being addressed here. When I’m worried about “the food I will eat” what I’m actually worried about is TIME. But Jesus promises, if I’m living in His will, pursuing His calling on my life, He will help manage my time.

And, my meal plan.

Do not worry about your clothes…

I love attending conferences. I dress up. Fix my hair. I don’t wear yoga pants … except for an afternoon walk. And I put on jewelry. What about you?

There was a time I worried for days beforehand about what I would wear at conference, about whether or not I looked professional enough.

Now, after conference is over, I analyze the pictures. Do I look fat? Cute? What was my hair doing, and why can’t I look left when Michelle Medlock Adams says, “Look left!”

But this worry is not really about clothes. This worry is all wrapped up in image. Yet, God says we are created in His image to do His good works He prepared for us long ago.

Even if we’re wearing yoga pants (though I wouldn’t recommend wearing them for your appointments) or taking silly pictures (they’ll be buried in the feed tomorrow).

Do not worry about basic needs…

Following a conference, you may think you need [insert words you don’t really understand but heard tossed around]. Scrivener. Platform. Writing coach. Copy editor. Deep POV. Social media synergy.

Add to those the things you may want in order to make writing easier: laptop, writing space, standing desk.

It’s all too easy to get caught up thinking you can’t do this because you don’t have the supplies. But if you are in the center of God’s will, then you already have everything you need. He’ll take care of the rest. Ask Him. He loves to answer.

Even if you think sparkly pens will improve your writing skills. Or, at least, they write so smoothly they improve your handwriting so you can read that note you wrote down about your character.

Do not worry about tomorrow…

This is where we camp out in the worry zone. What will happen tomorrow?

Which genre fits me? What if I get rejected? Or if I get accepted? What should I write next? Who should I sign with or pitch to or cold query? What if I fail?

What if I succeed?

Coming home and getting back to work brings many unknowns.

These worries will drown you—your fervor, your joy, your determination. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, focus on today.

Do what you have to get done today, and tomorrow will care for itself.

I love how The Message (writers love different words, shocker) says this:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:34, MSG).

Worrying about tomorrow only robs you of today’s joy.

What about you? What worries plague you after a conference or a retreat? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

Lindsey P. Brackett writes southern fiction and cooks big family meals, but she complains about the dishes. Her debut novel, Still Waters, released in 2017 and was named the 2018 Selah Book of the Year. Someday she hopes to balance motherhood and writing full-time. Until then, she’s just very grateful for her public school system.

Connect with Lindsey and get her free newsletter at lindseypbrackett.com or on Instagram @lindseypbrackett.