Philippians 4:1-9

Three o’ clock I wake up from the dogs barking and get up, but before I start my devotions my eye catches the date – it’s the day on which the debit orders are paid. My heart drops. I open the expenditure spreadsheet to see how much should be in which account so that all the expenses will be covered.

The total amount is alarming, because the cost of living and the ministry’s expenses have increased significantly. I wonder whether we’ll have enough money down the line… My stomach turns and I know it’s stress knocking on the door.

I open my on-screen Bible and read the scripture for the day. An enormous smile spreads over my face. Look, God’s timing has always been spot on! I’m amazed:

6Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.

Immediately that weird feeling in my stomach disappears and peace flows over me.

Then I see the heading of this piece of Scripture: “Pray About Everything”. And that is exactly what we should do. We must pray and trust in God and leave all our worries with Him.

I have a friend who has a sound business. We chatted about the industry being up and down. He told me about the hard times, and how, when looking back, he could see how the Lord had helped him through it every time. So when there comes a difficult time in his office, he simply tells himself: The Lord has helped me through every recent hardship, why would He stop now?

My friend understands something about what to do with worries.

God wants to be the main partner in our lives. He doesn’t want us to be overburdened by worries. When our finances don’t work out, He wants to know about it. He wants you to tell Him about it. He wants to know exactly what it is and what the effect is on your life. He wants to know about that bad feeling in your stomach, the sleeplessness and the exhaustion from plans that are simply not working out.

And God will help you. If I understand this Scripture correctly, God will help you feel better. Strength for one more day. This is a promise. You will find peace again, because you know God is on your side. No, the problem may not necessarily disappear supernaturally into thin air, but with God on your side you can tackle the elephant in the room or office bit by bit.

Talk to God about the issues in your life. Make Him part of your everything and you will have peace. Watch this space!

Reflection?

What are you worried about?

Does God know about it?

Where can you and God take the bull by the horns?

Prayer

Father, You know what I worry about, but please let me list them … Amen.