Don't Worry About It

There's a well known passage in the Bible that reads: "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, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (New American Standard)

I've been trying for decades to obey these verses. But sometimes they really bug me. 'Be anxious for nothing. ???

Really? Then I thought about turning around the phrases to see if it would make more sense or be easier to do. How does this sound?

Jesus is guarding your mind and heart. And because He’s on guard the peace of God is going to blow your mind. With gratefulness, tell Him everything you need, really…go ahead ask Him; don’t worry about it!

I hear the last part, “Don’t worry about it!” in a thick New Yorker accent like my daughter’s boyfriend has. Somehow the emphatic way they speak there makes one listen up and take them seriously. This IS serious. All that time we waste stressing out about what might happen which doesn’t happen and then what does happen isn’t even something we thought could happen so we could do our part and stress about it. Life just happens. “I am the Way” Jesus said. He also said “I am the Gate.” He also said “I am the Good Shepherd.” He’s on guard and that’s good enough for me. How about you? Can you say “Thank you, Jesus!”

I could really get used to this whole peace of God thing.

(Takes deep breath and smiles...)

~Elizabeth Anne White