Fretting versus Praying

Something that I have to learn over and over is the difference between fretting and praying. I know that I have been fretting again when I feel ill at ease inside, not calm or trusting. When I examine myself I see that I have been asking myself questions, such as “What if?” … “Will this ever end?” I am thinking about difficulties, worries and challenges at those times, but I am not praying about them.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I love that these verses give us a clear and simple formula for what to do when we are caught in fretting, stewing and worrying in our minds, feeling scared, hopeless and helpless about various things going on in our world and in our own lives.

For me, the key is to realize what I am doing. “Ah ha!! I am fretting again!!”’ Once I realize it, I turn my fretting into prayer by consciously bringing each concern, one by one, to God. I begin to say, “God, you know about x and I want to give this worry to you. Please help me handle the situation. Please, You do something about it.”

I find as I very deliberately take each item of concern to God, mysteriously and beautifully, peace of mind comes again. I have done something constructive with my worry. I have put my trust in God, my Creator, to bear it with me and to help me.

I love Matthew 11:28 ,” Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Fantastic news! And I have found in my own life, this verse is true!

May it be so/become so in your life too!