Worrying In His Presence
I was mid-way through a prayer – I’m not sure I could even call it a prayer – as I was processing my fears and overwhelmed thoughts out loud. As I sat in my car, I couldn’t get my head to feel any clear or relieved no matter how hard I concentrated on giving my burdens to God.
I didn’t feel connected or like my prayer was getting anywhere. I only felt frustrated and angry. In the middle of my growing irritation, His voice broke through, “Prayer involves letting me take over, Amelia. You aren’t surrendering. You’re worrying in my presence.”
It’s a strong visual. I could see myself pacing before God’s throne, muttering about all of my problems and anxieties, with God waiting for me to look up, but I never do. It’s scary to hand things to God sometimes, because, when we give Him the most vulnerable dreams of our souls, we wonder if He’s going to break them. It’s much easier to make sure our hopes are safe if we hold them tight in our fists.
We think to ourselves, “No, no, I got this, God. It’s safe right here; I got it.” But grasping the intangible is like grasping water, it will evade us. We will open our fists and realize that, while we were so focused on keeping our futures safe, our futures slipped away.
Some things God does want us to let go of, but, a lot of times, if it is a God-given hope, dream, or desire, we can trust Him with the details. He’s a good God who delights to take care of us, and He does not seek to break our hearts. The voices of disappointment, control, despair, hopelessness, shame, and insecurity running through our head are only voices. Our reality is not fixed to powerless whispers. Our reality is fixed to a powerful God.
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
It’s easy to feel blind in the rush of life sometimes. But we serve a God who promises to guide us and take care of us along the way. As we walk through hard times, He does not forsake us. So, why do we keep worrying in His presence as if He will?
God invites us to surrender. Paul outlines God’s will for us about prayer in Philippians 4:6-7: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
He wants us to rest. He wants us to breathe. He wants us to dance and sing and rejoice in His presence! How long has it been since you’ve danced with joy before God? Have you ever? How long have you been worrying without peace?
It’s time to open our fists and let Him hold whatever we’ve been worrying over. He won’t let it break. If He has given us the dream, the hope, the desire, the longing, He’ll hold it close and keep it safe for the appointed time. Because He cares about it as much as we do, and He’s much better at taking care of things than us.
Let this be a short encouragement to you, Reader. You can stop worrying. He’s got you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mia Grace loves sunflowers, words, old hardcover books, and fountain pens. She adores Jesus Christ, and seeks to listen and obey Him in her life. Her life verse is Isaiah 52:7, and her prayer is for every girl to grasp the height, weight, depth, width, and power of Christ's love for them.