Deep breath in….deep breath out….
Sometimes, I have to stop and just breathe. I have to remind myself that God is faithful and worries are momentary. One of my favorite verses talks about how God cares for the flowers, and they don’t worry about anything. How much more will He care for His children that He created in His image?
I repeat this to myself most days like a mantra. God cares about me. He isn’t going to leave me high and dry. He has brought me through incredible and devastating events and never left my side. As the popular Maverick City Music song says, “Why would He fail now?”
“He won’t.”
But that doesn’t mean we are immune to worrying and feeling anxiety. In fact, we are almost guaranteed to worry at some point, even if we have the highest faith in God. We’re only human. Humans worry. Life can be challenging, overwhelming, and scary.
We can’t just stop there, though. Ending on that note would leave us feeling hopeless and floundering. So, what are we to do?
I know y’all were already expecting this one, but…pray.
Endlessly.
Relentlessly.
Our prayers are so special. We get to talk directly to our Heavenly Father. We get to praise Him for His goodness and request His grace and provision.
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. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Recently, I had a pretty stressful situation with my car. I had to take it in and have a lot of expensive work done, and then, one month later, I started having the same issues as before. As much as I want to say that my first instinct was to take the situation to God in prayer, it was not. I messaged a few friends seeking advice and sharing my concerns. I called the car shop to schedule a time to bring my car in (again). I worked myself up into a stressed and worried state, wondering how I could afford another trip to the car shop so soon.
I had a moment where I realized this: that in my panic and worry, I hadn’t even thought to just stop and say a prayer about it first. When I finally did pray, it felt like that deep breath in and out that I mentioned at the beginning of today’s post.
What will happen with my car is still up in the air. It’s still an incredibly stressful situation I’m dealing with as I write this. But I know the God I serve. I know that He is good, and He is faithful. I can recall countless times He pulled through for me with divine provision and protection. Even if He doesn’t handle this situation exactly how I want or how I expect, I know He will work in it because I’m His child, and He’s a good Father who takes care of His children.
Today, I don’t know what your situation is. I don’t know what prayer you are crying out to God and asking for His protection in. But know that He hears you, and He loves you. His love doesn’t waver just because we worried first. His mighty hand is still strong even in situations that feel too big for us.
Those are just the places where we need to lean on God the most.
I can’t hold the whole world in my hands, but I know the Creator who does.
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