Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7
Most kind and gracious Father, I slept well last night but I awoke restless… fitful… and anxious. I know you tell me not to be anxious about anything (Phil. 4:6), but I am. Sunrise has yet to happen yet I’m already looking forward to moonrise. Thank you for freeing me from the pressure of pretending otherwise. At least I’m not anxious about surprising, embarrassing, or disappointing you. The gospel has taken care of that old bondage and slavery.
So… what’s going on inside of me? There’s really nothing enormous looming on the horizon… no one major crisis staring me down… no Sisyphus-like boulder I’m assigned to push up a hill. It’s just one of those Monday’s I find myself looking at seventeen little backpacks of needs, issues and hurting hearts lined up at my front door, waiting to be picked up as I head into the week.
So… what am I gonna do with my restless, fitful, anxious feelings? Father, I would surely despair if I didn’t really… really… really believe you care for me. That would be the one unbearable burden. But please help me know what anxiety casting actually looks like today and this whole week.
Of these things I am certain. You’re not calling me to be the 4th member of the Trinity… I’m not the whole Body of Christ… you do promise sufficient grace… you will give wisdom to those who ask… and your strength is made perfect in weakness, in my weakness.
So, Father, of the seventeen little backpacks, which ones do I pick up first? Which ones don’t really have my name on them at all? Which ones will just have to wait, as you give me grace not to dread disappointing people? As you have promised, please send your transcendent peace to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and treasured name.
