PEACE IN PERIL
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
How much do you worry? A lot? A little? All the time? Never? Some people can't get to sleep at night, tied up in knots of worry. Those same people might wake up in the wee hours of the morning, still fixated on the same situation. Others are asleep within two minutes each night and never lose sleep over anything.
Wherever you fall on that spectrum, the call is the same: pray about everything. For the person who worries themselves into an anxiety spiral by playing out every hypothetical in their mind: pray. For the person who maybe doesn't even think enough about the future to worry about it, pray. We are to take every trial, test, and tribulation to the King. Paul says in the passage above that we can tell Him what we need—that's allowed! As we do so, we should thank Him for all He has done. Practicing gratitude has been one of the primary ways I've combated worry and anxiety in my own life.
When we can choose prayer over worry, we'll begin to experience God's peace. This isn't the peace that comes from a meditative yoga session or a still meadow full of wildflowers in the woods. This is the peace that comes from acknowledging and embracing the sovereignty of the Creator. His peace helps us understand that even when things don't go the way we desire, He is still in control.
A point of clarity—fear, anxiety, worry and depression are very real things that people experience. The passage above (and this devotion, for that matter) is not a call to simply strive more. You could walk away thinking that if you just had more faith, you wouldn't experience these emotions. You could begin to believe you're deficient in some way or that your faith is invalid. Please, please, please hear me: we are all called to trust Him. But that might not eradicate all your fear or worry instantaneously. Sanctification is a life-long process.
APPLICATION: What area of your life do you need to trust Him with? Is there a situation that has you tied up in knots with worry or fear? How can you give that over to Jesus? Ask Him to help you—He is faithful.
PRAYER: God, I desire to know Your peace. Help me to bring every trial and trouble that I experience to You. Help me to trust You more each day. In Jesus' name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?