No Worries

A few weeks ago I preached on Philippians 4:6-7: “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 guide your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” LISTEN HERE.

I’ve had lots of opportunities to apply what I learned from this passage! One of the most important things for me personally has been the admonition to not only pray about our worries, but to pray with thanksgiving. When I’m worried it is NOT natural for me to be thankful.

So yesterday I felt really weighed down by a lot of concerns (ok, worries!). There was a relational worry, a family worry, a job worry . . . I sat down with my journal and wrote my prayers about these concerns – a lot of “Please . . .”

And then, trying to apply Philippians 4, I started writing what I was thankful for in the midst of these worries. My thoughts centered around the character of God and as a phrase came to mind, I looked up the complete verse. Here’s some of what I wrote:

• Lord, thank you that you are sufficient for anything I face and your strength is perfected in my weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9)
• Thank you that you love me no matter what.
• Thank you that you forgive my sins.
• You are compassionate and gracious and your love is from everlasting to everlasting, your righteousness with my children’s children. (It outlasts my life! Psalm 103:3-5, 17-19)
• Thank you that you have good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that your ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55:8).
• Thank you that your kingdom rules over all.

Honestly when I got done I felt great! I was so focused on God’s sufficiency that my worries were minute in comparison. I think this may be why God couples the command to pray about our worries with the reminder to do so with thanksgiving. We’re not talking to a bus boy at the supermarket, but the Creator of the universe!

Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC

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