Our church group launched a kayaking expedition through a maze of mangroves. Much of the way was clear paddling but sometimes the mangrove trail became narrow and confusing. The water was shallow, and the overhanging branches hindered us. Some of the girls freaked out when fiddler crabs fell in their kayak. Finally, we came out of the mangrove maze and found our way to open water and then home.
Worry, like that mangrove trail, can create a maze of issues that crowd around us and hinder our peace of mind and forward progress. We worry about our health, we stress over our finances, we become anxious over our jobs, and we lose sleep over our children. If we are not careful, worry can become a debilitating disease that threatens to sabotage our peace. How can we find our way through our own maze of worry? I believe God’s Word gives us a clear path.
Phil. 4:6,7 tells us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. These verses tell us to stop worrying and start praying. Worry about nothing but pray about everything should be our motto. God is laying out for us a gracious exchange. If we bring our burdens, our cares, and our worries to Him, He will give us something in exchange. He will grant us His peace. This peace is said to be beyond understanding. It also guards our heart and mind from further stress and concern.
Have you experienced that wonderful peace of God that comes over you after a time of heartfelt supplication to the Lord? The problems may still be there and the issues that caused your worry may still surround you. But somehow you now know that when you released your cares to God, He will take care of them. You can then say to yourself: “God’s got this”.
We would choose to steer our way around the stresses and problems of life if we could, but most of the time they are unavoidable. “Worry about nothing, pray about everything” is the path to peace.
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