Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When Nick and I got married, this was the verse God revealed to us over and over. We would open our Bibles and there it would be. Randomly. A little love note from our Father to us newly weds all throughout the journey. Today, it is our anchor verse. It’s been 6 and a half years, 3 kids and 3 houses later, and let me say, the anxiety hasn’t gotten any easier to surrender! It’s a constant battle to turn over the burdens to our King and praise Him through it all. Maybe by the time we’re wrinkled and gray we’ll be able to laugh through our dentures at an anxious thought. But, for now, it’s a lesson we are mastering at snail-speed.
I’m writing this for you, dear reader. But I’m also writing this to remind myself of my duty as a Christian to surrender every anxious situation in good faith and in joy to my Heavenly Dad. Jesus said, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-12).
Oh, Jesus’s words there soothe my soul and calm my burdened heart! He won’t fail us! As often as our fellow humans (and ourselves) might, He will not. That’s not to say we won’t experience hard times and sickness and brokenness of this life. Unfortunately/fortunately, he won’t take our free will (see our post about suffering).
This week, lift up those anxieties to him! Write them down, find a church you can kneel before the tabernacle in, and just surrender these each in prayer and petition to Him. I challenge you to keep that paper and over time log how He answers those anxious thoughts. See how He gifts you peace. He is a good father who longs to help His children find calm in a troubled world.
Take a Victory and a Blessing, friends.
Alina