This morning as I studied this verse in my devotional time, I was reminded when we let worry and anxiety consumes us, we are trying to do God's work. All worrying does is tell us we need to be king, because God can't handle our stuff.
How many nights have we wasted on worry instead of the rest we know our bodies need? How many times have we strolled through social media news feeds and felt the anxiety of drama filled lives played out in rants and fits of anger? How often have we prayed for our situations, but we already have our minds set on impending doom and really don't expect God to do anything about it? How many times to we blurt out our concerns to God and leave His presence much like the way we came in?
That is not the prayer and supplication with thanksgiving that Paul speaks about. He talks about entering the presence of God in a spirit of worship and praise, to turn our focus on our Creator, His awesome power and His everlasting love.
God already knows our lives are a mess, so coming before Him with all our messy situations, our fears or our broken hearts is no surprise to Him. Our lives could never be any messier than David, a man after God's own heart. We are just as important and our worries and concerns are just as important to God as David's were when he was in trouble and cried out for help over and over again.
In Psalm 86: 15-16 David wrote: " But you O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your maidservant".
Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility not to worry, but Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers.
And David reminds us of the Character of God;
First, God is loving, gracious, extremely patient, full of mercy and trustworthiness. He never changes and is always the same. The character of God is the bedrock of the Christian faith.
Second, remember the power of prayer. David did not pray in generalities, he asked God for specific things in his time of trouble. He asked God for his presence("turn to me") God's mercy, God's strength, God's deliverance, ("save the son"). Who could ever need more than that?
I have learned that anxiety and peace cannot co-exist. When I am anxious and can't sleep, I find that my focus is on myself, leaving my spirit restless and without peace. But when I turn my focus toward the One who is truly in control of all things, my spirit calms and my anxiety fades.
Philippians 4:6 tells me the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. God's peace is different than the world's peace. True peace can not be found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict or in good feelings. True peace comes from knowing God is in control.
God knows our situations even before they happen and I think he is waiting to see if we will turn to Him as He has told us in His word or if we will get all bent out of shape trying to handle things ourselves.
"While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered authority"...A W Tozer
In times of anxiety and stress, a simple prayer can bring the "Peace of God" that Paul is talking about......"give it to God and let Him worry" Martin Luther
Calm me O Lord, as you calmed the storm. Keep me from harm. Let all tumult within me cease. Enfold me Lord in you peace.
When The King really rules our world, we really don't need to worry.
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