Anxious Prayer

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Tuning in to the news during 2020 and 2021 was like tuning into some sort of horror movie. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, it had been non-stop coverage of who has it, who doesn’t, and how we’re all going to die from it. OK, that last part is a bit extreme, but it’s the sentiment that the media seemed to be conveying. Basically, the gist was that if you leave your house, you will probably contract the virus and die; or be killed off during the zombie apocalypse.

It seems this world thrives on fear. Something bad is going to happen, and now we should all be anxious about it. The funny thing is, most of the time we’re told to fear about something over which we have no control. And, that, of course, creates anxiety. What if this happens? Or, what if that occurs? We find things to worry about seemingly everywhere we look.

So, what are we as Christians supposed to do in a world that thrives on fear? Claim the promise, which the apostle Paul wrote nearly 2,000 years ago, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Being by thanking God for all that He has done for you, and all that He will do through you. And, of course, you should be bathing everything in prayer and trusting in God’s sovereign power in all of this. It’s his weight to lift, not yours. It’s his universe, not ours. Take your rest in understanding that an all-powerful, all-loving God has got your eternity secured; locked up.

It’s when we claim this truth that we can find peace in life. Yes, the world is still gonna go haywire and be messed up. And, the Bible tells us things are going to look pretty crazy before Jesus comes again. But, we can pause and smile because Jesus has already saved us from all this chaos.

If you are reading this, take a pause and pray in thankfulness to Jesus. Pause and reflect on the good things he has done, and promises to do. Spend time in his presence, and listen to the hope found in his voice. He’s got you.