Philippians 4
Proverbs 28
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything. Easier said than done! Life has this uncanny way of always presenting us with things to worry about, whether its related to our finances, health, family, friends and even our government. To add to that, some of us even have a biological and emotional bent to anxiety. It creeps up on us, backs us into a confined space and doesn’t let go. Worry and anxiety can leave us paralysed, sad and without hope. But the scriptures give us a place to run and more importantly a person to run to.
God is our place of refuge, the one to whom we run. It’s important to remember this because He is the one who is in control of everything and every situation – nothing catches Him by surprise. Which is why Paul says don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation run to God. The way we run to Him is by prayer. He is always available and ready to listen. But more than this is what He gives us as we run to Him: peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding. I’ve always been amazed by this peace that God gives, when things around me are in turmoil, when life is a raging storm, I am strangely settled, curiously calm. Of course this is not always the case but then again it’s usually because I’m not running to God. Yet even in this, God guards our hearts and minds in Christ.
It’s profoundly assuring and comforting to know that we have a place to go, someone to run to when life happens. How much more so when it’s the God of peace. So when the waves of life keep rolling in, when the wind rages and you feel helpless, PRAY! And if you just can’t, well, God has given us each other. Let a brother or sister in Christ know so that they can pray for you. I do it and it always helps. It helps because when we call on the God of peace, whether for ourselves or others, He is there, He is listening and He grants peace that surpasses all understanding.
Heavenly Father, God of peace, thank you for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Help us today to cast all our burdens and worries ontoYyou. Grant us peace and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For Your Glory, Amen.