When We Pray About Everything, God Answers
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7
What do you do when you worry? Do you lose sleep? Is your mind dominated by anxious thoughts? Do you think of the worst possible scenarios that might occur? Does your stress level go through the roof? The Bible tells us that we should “be anxious for nothing.” It seems that it’s easier to worry about our circumstances than to trust God with them.
The Bible assures Christians that when we pray, God hears us (1 John 5:15). The difficult situations you encounter and problems you face do not come as a surprise to Him. So when troubles come your way, instead of wasting your time in worry, invest some time in prayer. Worry is a nasty weed that is killed only through prayer. Prayer eliminates worry. Remember, if you are God’s child, you’re in good hands. Prayer reminds you that no matter what you face, God can handle it. An old Jamaican proverb does a good job of summarizing the biblical view of worry and prayer. It simply states, “If you’re going to pray, don’t worry; if you’re going to worry, don’t pray.”
Worry begins to dominate our lives when we take our eyes off God and focus on our circumstances. In contrast, when we pray, we take our eyes off our circumstances and focus on God. The promise found in today’s passage is comforting. “The peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God’s answer is always peace when we trust Him. The next time you start to feel anxious, turn to God in prayer and experience His peace filling your heart, leaving no room for worry.
Dear Lord I pray that when problems come my way, my natural inclination will be to trust You instead of worrying. I am blessed to know that every time I pray Your answer is peace. I know there’s nothing that will come my way that You cannot handle. Teach me to trust You, believe You, and depend on You in prayer. Amen.
Dr. Jim Perdue, Millington, TN
