How Worry Reminds Me to Pray
Tension traveled through my body like electricity. What-ifs swirled through my mind and my world began to tilt out-of-control.
“What do I do? What do I do?” I ask myself.
My stomach burned and knotted tight. Yet my circumstances remained. Worry. It didn’t change one thing except my stomach lining. What good could come from worry?
Then Philippians 4:6 (NLV) came to mind, “Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need.”
Learn to pray…Do not worry…Let worry be a reminder to pray. A reminder that God is in control and we are not. A chance to pry open our tightfisted hands and lay our circumstances at the throne of God. An invitation to speak to Him who is able and give Him everything I am unable to do.
Maybe tension and knotted stomachs can become cues to remind us to pray. The worry that wrinkles our brows could be the same thing that drives us to our knees.
“I don’t see how this will turn out…” Pray.
“What am I going to do?” Pray.
“Is she going to die?” Pray.
“Is it cancer?” Pray.
“Why?” Pray.
“I’m worried about her.” Pray.
God can transform worry into prayer and thanksgiving. Isn’t that the way with God? He redeems our sin and makes beauty from ashes. Our worry can drive us to our knees and help us pray continually.
Has worry ever driven you to your knees? How has that looked in your life? I would love to hear from you.
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Perfectly said. It is our trials and the hard things in life that we worry and stress over that bring us to our knees, or at least, they should.
The trick is leaving the stress and worry and picking up prayer that leads to trust.
Thanks Char. Isn’t God good to remind us that worry should drive us to our knees.
Gotta say, I love this take on worry. All I’ve ever heard is the first part of that verse, “Don’t Worry.” Period.
Like that’s possible. I certainly haven’t mastered it. Great twist to turn worry into an excuse to pray. Love it! 🙂
So humbled this blessed you Barbara. Praying God’s nearness and our cue to pray helps you lay your worry down. I am still learning it.