The Prayer

This week has been a tough one. I was confronted with the fact that I tend not to communicate in a timely manner which has affected the people I work with. The feeling I get from the initial comments is that the fallout from that could be significant. My own tendency is to see the worst case as the prediction of the consequences, and then to either wallow in self pity or just stress and panic. That's kind of where I've been this week. If I care about something, and I cause it any harm, I feel like I have killed it.

Many years ago I had friends who introduced me to a book by Douglas Adams called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's definitely not a Christian book, and is largely nonsense, but it's a fun read and quite comical. The "Guide" the book talks about is an electronic book which, on the cover, in large friendly letters, bears the words "Don't Panic". That phrase has been on my phone lock screen for about as long as that technology has existed. I love the life application of that phrase.

In my outdoor adventures I have been told that one of the worst things you can do is panic. If I panic in an emergency situation while kayaking or climbing I will be much more likely to get hurt or to hurt someone else than if I remain calm. I'm generally ok with that out in the wild. I'm not as ok with that where work and income are involved. I tend to worry, panic, and stress to the point that I can't eat or sleep. I can also tend to isolate or sedate when I feel like that. I know that, just like with outdoor issues that come up, I'm more likely to hurt or be hurt when I react that way.

The Bible could nearly have the same words as the Hitchhiker's Guide printed on the cover for the follower of Christ. It's actually a command for us.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I am told not to worry. I follow the Man who won the game for us. He fought and conquered in the war between good and evil. I know how this ends. Why do I keep on grabbing at my worries and holding on to them myself?

1 Peter 5:6-7

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

I am told that I can outsource our worry in this passage. I don't care much for the financial administration side of business. I love working on the final numbers, but all the bookkeeping in between gives me a headache. I have a huge appreciation for bookkeepers that I am able to reach out to so I have assistance with that part of business. I don't really like worry either. I have the option to outsource that to God. Why am I so prone to hold on to the worry and anxiety that I encounter?

Isaiah 41:10

¹⁰ Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you; I will help you;

I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

I have been reminded a number of times in the last few weeks of the old children's song "Jesus Loves Me". The line that keeps getting repeated from various sources is "They are weak, but He is strong". I am not told to bear the burdens of life by myself. I'm told exactly the opposite. God is with me. Jesus is there beside me. When I link up with Him my task is made easier. Just this morning I met with our church men's group for breakfast where we studied Matthew 11. Jesus allows us to yoke ourselves to Him. We link ourselves to Him so he can carry the hard stuff with us and for us.

John 14:27

²⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.

I have peace in Christ. I don't believe that means I don't come across worry that I can allow to stick to me. I believe it means that I can follow the command to cast those cares on Him and display a peace and strength that is not my own. If I'm so great that I can just deal with whatever life throws at me without any assistance than what need is there for faith? I know I struggle with handling stress and worry. I can't glory in my own strength under pressure. I know where my peace comes from.

Today that's my prayer for myself and my prayer for you. I know that there is peace in God that is beyond what my mind can hold. I know that in humility I can outsource all my worries to my Creator and just leave them with Him. I know that Jesus provides the strength to overcome all the challenges that I face. I know that I can take the peace that Christ provided and remove the trouble and fear from my heart.

Lord of all Creation, you are unfathomable, awesome, and still constantly show your care for me. I can only grasp the tiniest fraction of who you are. I thank you for your promises. I know them as I study your Word, and I pray that you will give me the strength to cling to them. I claim the promise of peace that you provide. I cannot continue to struggle alone in worry, stress, and anxiety. I praise you for your provision. You have fed me, clothed me, provided for my family, given me employment, and blessed me in all those areas. I pray that I will refuse to pick up the worry that I give to you. I thank you for being there for me as a friend and as the original fellow warrior.

I pray this in the Name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.