Anxiety and Peace

Sometimes I am stunned that I am stunned by God. I shouldn't be surprised by Him, but I am. Often. This past week, I was amazed at how He can teach me something new with something I consider familiar.

I love reading the Bible, God's Word. It is sharper than a two edged sword and it cuts to the heart. It also corrects, teaches, rebukes, and it trains. This time He taught me and then gave me some training about a topic near (but not dear) to my heart.

Anxiety.

Turns out God has a plan for anxiety. Funny thing is that I thought I already knew that. When I am worried about someone, I should pray. When I'm nervous about how something is going to turn out, I should pray.

What I didn't think through is that when I'm tense... stressed...emotional... hormonal...nervous...moody...frustrated...all of these feelings being involved with anxiety, I should pray in a particular way and that He has a gift for me if I do.

I read these verses:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

I've read these verses before. I've even quoted them. I just didn't remember that they went together. That they belonged together. That God put them together on purpose.

Do you see a cause and effect here?
IF we are anxious, we should gratefully talk to God, beseech Him and share our requests.
THEN the peace of Christ, which will blow our minds (my words), will protect us ( "guard us", emotionally and spiritually- "hearts" and "minds").

I am not a big worry wart (Ok, ok. Except when my children are around bodies of water and except when Wee Babe makes any kind of choking noise.). BUT I do struggle with the daily stresses of life. For example: my kids being too loud or annoying in public; not running late to something; being sure my children are polite to guests; having the house clean for company; my daughter not wearing underwear under her skirt and me not knowing about it until waaaaay after we get home from a function. These things can make my internal pressure shoot sky high. I can let my emotions run away with me, quickly. It's a bad trait. I've come a long way from where I was as a young woman, but I still have plenty far to go.

God used these verses to teach me that His plan for me to have peace doesn't just apply to the really big things, but that it applies to the little things that that affect my emotional make up. The little things that add up to my life.

When the tea I just bought spills in the diaper bag, pray. Peace will be my reward.
When the child speaks rudely to a grown up, pray. Peace will be my reward.
When the baby is poopy just as we are walking out the door, pray. Peace will be my reward.

I was stunned to see that God had a plan for my daily anxiety. I'm so grateful I read those verses last week. Peace guarding my mind and heart sounds like a super idea to me.