Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

If there was ever a time to lean into this invitation and the subsequent promise it is now. With exceptional levels of anxiety gripping our society, we need help to discover the peace of God in the midst of upheaval. The apostle Paul is not the only one to speak this message. Jesus himself, gave the same command in Matthew 6:25-26. He told his listeners to not be anxious about their lives or their daily needs or even the future. The apostle Peter offers the same advice, framing his appeal with a call to humility, he urges the believers to surrender their anxiety to God trusting in his great care for them. Peter 5:6,7

The pressures of life and of legitimate concerns can cause us to focus on what is happening around us in such a way that we "forget" to yield our needs and petitions to God.. The English word for "anxious" which is derived from the Latin word "anxius", is akin to the word "angere" which means to strangle. Worry and anxiety can easily steal life from us. Robbing our ability to appreciate and recognize God's goodness in our lives, especially in the difficult times.

In the New living Translation the word for "anxious" is translated "worry".  The Webster dictionary defines this word as "harassment by tearing, biting,snapping, especially at the throat. It can also mean to be afflicted with "mental distress".

How clearly this describes how worry and anxiety can affect us as individuals and as a collective family.  With all that is happening in the world and in our lives currently perhaps it's helpful to be reminded that God is our "safe space".

He welcomes us to draw near. To share our deepest needs and all that is in our hearts. As we acknowledge His goodness and grace and mercy in our lives we are held secure in the promise that His extraordinary peace is able to protect our minds and hearts from being overwhelmed. Thank you God!

In Him,
Anita Ruis