Tried and True Words to Remember

Recent weeks have been a time of much reflection. Maybe it’s the winter days holed up in my home with a cozy blanket and a good book that inspire reflective thought. Perhaps it is also the fact that I have had some major decisions to make – ones that greatly impact my future.

Have you ever been in a spot where you have so many things to consider you feel like your brain is going to blow up? It’s hard to gain perspective with so much bombarding us. Some days I wish God would just give me a straight answer.

It is easy to get caught on the treadmill of life. For me, for example, I am dealing with a health concern that has required some serious dietary changes. While I can do that, having to carefully analyze all of my food intake has created significant added stress. And guess what – stress is a key component in exacerbating my health concern. Then I start stressing about being stressed. Is that a vicious circle or what?

As I have travelled my life road these last few months, I really haven’t bathed this particular matter in prayer as I should have. I have let worry overtake me more times than I care to admit and push away what I know I really need to do to be well spiritually through it all. Rather than thanking God for the food I can eat and for the ability to find a variety of foods to meet my needs, I have wallowed in worry that I won’t ever get this all figured out.

Our world has become a worry machine. Young children have anxiety. The pressure to strive to be the perfect spouse, parent, administrator… is ongoing. We get caught up in remembering mistakes from the past. We get apprehensive about what is happening to us now. We tremble over what might come our way in the future.

Jesus knows our human nature causes worry and stress to seep into our lives. In His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 He reminds us numerous times not to worry.

At a stressful time in life a friend shared the following verse with me:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

This passage in Philippians has been a favourite since then. These words are both comforting and challenging. The comfort lies in the fact that there is a solution to anxiety – put all our worries and cares in God’s hands. But it challenges us as well to think about praying with thanksgiving when things in life are unsure and anxiety rears its ugly head.

Worry is a joy stealer. It can be paralyzing with the hopelessness it creates. It’s not a good place to be. Whether it is a big issue like a major life decision, or it is the little day to day things, worry creates havoc.

Paul has a good solution – pray! We can pray about anything, large or small. God listens and hears our supplications. What is interesting is Paul states we should pray with thanksgiving. Have you ever really tried that? I have and it is a wonder – as I thank God for His many specific blessings, I feel the worry dissipate. When I focus on God’s great love for me and reflect on the blessings He has already bestowed, I find there is less room in my heart and mind for anxiety and concern.

Earlier in that chapter, Paul talks to us about rejoicing – that focuses us away from our worries and problems. We are to rejoice in the Lord always (verse 4). That’s not just when things are going well but more so when they are not.

I surely don’t get it right all the time – and the well-worn Bible page where that Philippians verse is located is a testament to the fact that I need its reminder again and again. But true tranquility will not happen without remembering to leave our cares with God and trust that He will take care of them.

What can you be thankful for today? Even being thankful for small things brings hope and healing into our lives. I pray that you can take some time today to find true refreshment and calm in trusting our Lord and Saviour to carry you through whatever is going on.

When we put worries behind us and instead focus on Jesus, it is life changing. We might not take care of the concern such as the money issue or a child’s behaviour, but we garner a new focus when we face the issue with God’s promises in hand.

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