“My determination is to transfer this habit of worry into an instant moment of prayer and leaving it with God” – Charles Swindoll

We’ve all experienced it. The tightening in our gut. The quickening of our heartbeat. The sweat on our brow.

We can’t sleep. Just when we feel our body relaxing into rest, our minds begin vibrating with unease and our worries are once again at the forefront.

We can feel it every waking moment. What if? What if? What if?

Worry and anxiety are prisons to the soul. They restrict our actions, saturate our minds, and overburden our souls.

Worry can dull our ability to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

It can make us paranoid and irritable. We are unhappy and troubled. Our despondency reverberates through our lives, impacting our relationships and marriages.

Worry can zap your strength. You find yourself lying in bed, not wishing to face the world outside of your bedroom door. You don’t enjoy the activities you once found amusement in. The cloud of anxiety follows you wherever you go.

However, worry is far from God’s will for you. Instead, God says this:

“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).

Do you want to see your worry melt way? Present your requests to God.

Do you want peace? You’ll find it in prayer. A peace that passes all understanding will fill your heart and mind and will guard them from the torment of anxiety. You will find rest in the never-ending peace of God.

Pray with thanksgiving. Before asking God for His help, shower Him with praises. Thank Him for everything: Your home, your family, His love. What do you take for granted? The breath in your lungs? Your eyesight? Thank Him for that too!

Let your first instinct in times of uncertainty be prayer instead of anxiety. When you can’t sleep at night, pray for rest. When you are nervous, pray for strength. When you are unsure, pray for clarity.

This passage is straightforward. Pray in every situation. God’s peace is available for every circumstance. There is no problem that you’re facing, issue you’re battling, or decision you’re considering that you cannot lay at the feet of God.

And leave it there.

Parents: Ask your children what they are worried about. Read this passage to your kids. Tell them that if they present their worries to God, He will give them a peace that passes all understanding.