Prayers for those who are Anxious
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Psalm 139: 17-18)
As lockdown continues to ease, and a new way of life emerges, this next season of Coronavirus disruption promises more uncertainty than ever. There are so many questions: how long will we be living in this ‘half existence’? When will we be able to visit family in complete freedom? When will our kids go to school normally? How are we meant to continue balancing part-school and part-home and part-church in the meantime?
As we look around at how work, home, school, church and even our family has been changed by the last year, we can easily get overwhelmed and fearful. Even if we didn’t suffer from anxiety before lockdown, we may well feel it battling within us now as we desperately try to manage everything. These days, nothing seems simple; even a visit to the supermarket has become a long, burdensome and exhausting task, sapping energy we no longer have.
While it seems like we have plenty to fear and worry about, we can still find great encouragement in the truth that even before we were born, “all the days ordained for me were written in [God’s] book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). Every moment of our lives is under God’s watchful care as part of His good plan and purpose for us. Even this uncomfortable and uncertain season has already been written in His book.
We don’t know how long this will last, what things will look like out the other side, or what stresses and strains will be put on our families. But God has these days written down, along with His plans, His provision and His faithfulness to walk with us through them. We do not have to carry our fears in our own strength. As the Psalm continues, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” (vv. 17-18). God is our very present help. Let’s place our burdens and fears into His hands today.
Dear Lord, our ever-present help in trouble, this season has turned my daily battle with anxiety into a fearsome mountain to climb each hour. The many months of restricted living has made the outside world an unknown and scary place. Even the idea of walking out the front door is unsettling. When plans are undone, the future looks less and less certain, my family is breaking under the strain and fear sets in, help me to cast all my burdens upon You. Please show me Your loving care. Remind me that Your thoughts and love are fixed on me. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Almighty God, my Rock and my Fortress! I thank You that my life is in Your loving, powerful hands. Sometimes I forget that and become anxious. Sometimes I think that I must get everything right for things to go well. Many times I am tempted to pull my life out of Your hands and work things out myself; but it only leads to more anxiety. Oh Lord, build in me a solid and unshakable trust In Your goodness, Your power and Your love. Help me to step off the treadmill of trying to sort everything out; I can’t. I never could. I come to You afresh and give my life into Your hands. I give You my health, family, loved ones, job, finances, my past, future and all of the rest of what makes up my life; I place it all in Your hands. I choose to put my faith in You because You are worthy of my trust. Amen.
My Prince of Peace, thank You that I do not need to rely on this changeable world to bring me peace. I praise You that whatever happens, You are not surprised, shaken or subdued; I can trust You with everything. I bring You my anxieties, my fears, my insecurities and all of my uncertainties. I pray that You would grant me the peace that passes all understanding which You have promised in Your Word. Take away all fear related to the coronavirus; fears for my health, the health of my loved ones, my financial situations, my employment, my cancelled plans and any other anxieties caused by the pandemic. Fill my heart with an absolute assurance of Your strength, Your care and Your willingness to look after every aspect of my life. I ask this in Your mighty name, Amen.
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