When you’re anxious and worried

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Pray about it more than you worry about it – a simple yet profound statement. Perhaps a most needed truth for each one of us today. I remember when I was first challenged to do this, to pray more than I worry, and I remember thinking, “Haven’t I been praying about it a lot already?” I was gently reminded in that moment that thinking about it, talking about it, worrying and stressing about it, and even asking others to pray about it does not equal praying about it. Prayer is intentional. You know you’re praying when you’re praying. This is a call to enter in. The time and energy spent worrying and being anxious could potentially move mountains if we would instead be found in prayer.

Each and every one of us faces difficulty that causes stress, worry, and anxiety.

How am I going to get through this?
Where is the money going to come from?
Who is going to be there for me?
What am I going to do?

These are questions that we’ve all had to wrestle with at one time or another, and the sad reality of our fallen state is that these questions are inward focused. We do everything that WE can. We try to be strong. We attempt to come up with the right answers. But in the end, we come up wanting. Why? Because we weren’t mean to carry our own burdens. Rather, we are commanded here in Philippians to not be anxious about anything…in other words, to resist anxiety, worry, and fear…and displace those emotions with a dedicated determination to be found on our knees in prayer about EVERYTHING. Not just the major things, not only the things we think we should pray about, but we are called to bring all things to the Lord in prayer. Why? Because in doing so, God knows that are hearts will be changed. Our hearts, the seat of our emotions, will be shifted to a unwavering confidence in the character of a mighty God who is more than able to see us safely through the very thing causing us anxiety. What is your thing? What are you anxious about? Bring it to the Lord in prayer.

And what is the promised result? Peace. This is not simply a good feeling that fades after a short time. God’s peace experienced is to be untroubled and content in the face of your circumstances. This is to not be moved even though your circumstance may remain. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding. It won’t make sense for you to be so untroubled and content, but that is what prayer will do to you. God might not lift the trial out of your life, but He does promise His peace to guard your heart (emotions) and your mind (thoughts) if you would bring all things to Him in prayer. Are you praying about it more than you’re stressing about it? The loving plea from our Father’s heart today is simply this: “Bring it to me in prayer.”