Have you ever been anxious about something to the extent that you lost sleep, or had an upset stomach, only to discover that there really wasn’t anything to worry about, that everything was going to work out anyway? I know I certainly have.
In the early days of my flying career, whenever I had a flight scheduled I would check the weather the night before, and if it was questionable I would worry all night about whether we would be able to go or not. All of that worrying was a waste of time and energy, however, because the next morning I would get up and check the weather again; if it was good we would go, if it was bad we wouldn’t. I learned that my worrying wasn’t going to affect the weather, or whatever decision would be made the next morning. Having learned this, I resolved the issue by ceasing to check the weather the night before.
I have experienced worry in many other areas of life as well – I seem to have a knack for that! My worries usually come from one of two sources: Either I want some particular thing or situation to occur, or I want to accomplish something in my own way or by my own strength. The “worry” is that I will not get what I want.
In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter gives some practical instruction about handling anxiety. He says that we are to cast all our anxieties on the Lord. And then he goes on to say that we can do this because God cares for us. The secret to casting our worries on God, however, is found in the previous verse, where Peter admonishes us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Humbling ourselves means yielding to the Lord’s will and also seeking the Lord’s help. And since it is his will that is to be done, the outcome is his concern – not ours.
We do this through prayer. As Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
That is the Prayer League way.
A special gift from a WMPL donor enabled us to pay full allowances in October. Thank you for your faithful partnership in this ministry as well.