The cure for worry

"Do not worry about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

     God is keenly interested in your smallest concerns and the overwhelming problems. Devote yourself to prayer or these worries can quickly destroy your peace of mind, exhaust emotional reserves, weaken body and soul, thoroughly demoralizing yourself and others.

     Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor trials in the present, nor any trial to come, neither height, nor depth, nor all of creation can ever separate us from the love of God, poured out in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Because Christ is near, there is no cause for worry. When anxiety, fretfulness and worry consume your peace of mind, prayer is always the cure.

     Pray when you find yourself worrying about work, family concerns, marriage problems, rebellious children and declining health. Pray when you lay awake, worrying about terrorism and the economy, famine and drought, cultural decline, civil conflicts and genocide.

     Realize your call to prayer is not a call to apathy. Prayer often leads to action. The apostle Paul is by no means suggesting passive inaction or irresponsibility. You must continue to plan and work, plant gardens and build houses, work for justice and care for the less fortunate among you.

     Pray from a thankful heart. Prayers without gratitude are like birds without wings. Thankfulness is a spiritual necessity for all situations. This attitude opens heart and eyes to God's past and present ongoing activity. Gratitude has often been called the "soundest psychotherapy." A wise fifteenth century prayer mystic once wrote: "if thank you is the only prayer you ever utter, that will be enough."

     Through your prevailing prayers-God's deep and abiding peace will guard your heart and mind. Your prayers will bring about the healing of Zimbabwe and even change history in the making. The power of one person praying is limitless.

     So when you awake at night, troubled with many worries, remember that the cure for worry is prayer. And if you can breathe, you can pray.

     Prayer: God, I am a worrier by nature. Help me pray whenever I become fretful and anxious, fearful and pessimistic. I often neglect to thank you. Teach me to pray with a grateful heart. Now guide my prayers for Zimbabwe. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
November 18, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute this reflection throughout Zimbabwe.