WHAT HOLDS YOU STEADY?
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life (Phil.4:6-7, The MSG).
When I look up at the sky, I always find myself talking to God. I know God is everywhere but the heavens do declare His glory and remind me He is watching over my life--and YOURS! I saw this truth, and experienced the reality of God's promise of peace in exchange for worry and anxiety, as I went through several different experiences these past ten days.
Ten days ago I was enjoying a family vacation--two children, three grandchildren under four, and one husband--all in one house. It was noisy, fun, and intensely satisfying. Then we left Palm Springs to fly back to Portland, Oregon.
Our flight was supposed to get into San Francisco by 8.30 p.m. We arrived at nearly midnight after circling the airport and being diverted to another city for refueling. Watching the hours tick by as we sat on the plane, I talked to the Lord. I didn't want to spend the night on the airport floor, but it looked like we would miss our connection by a few hours. We didn't! In fact, every flight was delayed by weather and we made it home at 3 a.m.
While we were gone, our kitchen was torn up and we expected new counters to be installed. Walking into our house at 3.30 a.m. we found NO counters, NO kitchen sink, and NO appliances. After a week, we now have counters, but still no sink or running water in the kitchen. It's amazing how you can camp out in your own home!
One other challenge: having an angiogram three days ago to check my heart before I have surgery May 17. I know many are praying for me and I had the most amazing experience of the perfect peace God promises when we give our worries and anxieties to Him. I'm also praising God for keeping me healthy these past five months and giving me the energy to teach and speak as well as write another book proposal.
It would have been easy to complain, gripe, and fixate on "what if this or that happens," but we don't have to--and God doesn't want us to. So let me ask you about your situation:
What worries and anxieties are chewing you up?
What are you doing with them?
Is your worry and anxiety producing faith or fear, helping you or holding you in bondage?
Have you asked someone (or many) to pray and hold you up at this time?
Believing and focusing on the truth that God does love you and will provide what you need in your circumstances will bring peace. So will asking others to pray for you. But YOU have to choose with your will and your mind and heart, to say "You are my Strength, my Shield, my Helper, the One I trust. I will walk through this knowing You are with me."
That's my prayer for you, my friend.
