“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” — Philippians 4:6–7
Sometimes the things I need to learn are the most basic things.
This week, I attended a conference in Mississippi. I tried to go with an open heart to what the Lord would teach me.
What the Lord showed me was that there are many places in my life where I let frustrations or anxieties just sit there. In virtually every area of my life, there are low-grade frustrations. I don’t think I’m particularly weird because of that. Most of us have these types of frustrations.
But what had I been doing with those frustrations? Nothing. In some cases, they would build up with unpleasant results.
God reminded me this week that there is a cure to my anxieties and frustrations: prayer. God was inviting me to let go of my frustrations and seek Him in prayer through passages like Phil. 4:6–7.
So, I resolved by God’s grace that instead of letting frustrations sit there, I would bring them before the Lord. All throughout the week, I used frustration and anxiety as a signal to send me to prayer.
The results were remarkable, not in the people or circumstances I was praying about, but in myself. I felt more peace than I had felt in a long time. But that’s what God promised: “the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lord, help me to remember to use my frustrations and anxieties as signals that point me to You.
Thank you for sharing this. I know that in my heart I need to work on this, but sometimes it is so overwhelming that I just don’t know where to start.
Timely reminder and I am grateful the Lord prompted you to share these thoughts today.
So insightful! A reminder for me for sure! Anxiety can certainly take me to a different level when not confronted! Thank you