Author and speaker Mary Lou Quinlan claims that her mother “inhaled a worry and exhaled a prayer.” She says this because her mother had a habit of writing down prayer requests and keeping them in a special place—her “God Box.” There was one rule related to these petitions. According to Mary, “If [anyone] ever worried about the request, Mom would say, ‘If you think you can handle it better than God, it’s coming out [of the box].’ ” This helped Mary and her family to let go of their concerns.
God wants us to release our fears and troubles into His hands (Matthew 11:28). If you’re like me, this takes a bit of effort. Here’s what usually happens. First, I follow Paul’s advice and discuss my concerns with God. He said, “Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him” (Philippians 4:6). After praying, I take a breath and open my eyes, and the worry immediately returns. I have two choices—continue to worry or begin to pray.
If I worry again, I’m telling God that I’m not sure He’s strong enough or willing to take care of the issue. I’m rewriting the Scripture that says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). If I worry, my version says: “Cling to your problems, because God is unconcerned with your life.”
The truth is, God loves His children. His design for our lives doesn’t include worry as a way to solve problems (Matthew 6:27). The discipline of prayer, however, can help us to see His power and remember His past provision for us. Committing our worries to Jesus can help us find peace when we’re stressed. This peace “exceeds anything we can understand . . . [it will] guard [our] hearts and minds as [we] live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: James 3:1-12
More:
Read Proverbs 12:25 to see what worry does to a person. Look up Luke 12:29-32 to learn why believers don’t need to worry.
Next:
How might constant worry affect a believer’s testimony before unbelievers? Which comes more naturally to you—pray and worry or pray and release?
Gary Shultz on December 21, 2014 at 7:07 am
I suppose everyone has things hit them differently. Moms seem to be that way a little more than dads. I seem to forget things and have to be reminded of urgent matters. Your story is very pointed and correct, God has a much better overview and has the ability to change what needs changing, when it needs changed. Christmas seems to bring many worries along with the joy. May Christmas be a time of unhindered joy for you and your family. Blessings to you.
p170 on December 21, 2014 at 9:01 am
Have been going through a series of unfortunate circumstances since mid summer. This post is so appropriate to my situation – my “God box” is getting several entries. Thank God for His mercy, grace and oversight in my life. He is removing the submissions one by one. What a wonderfulGod we serve!!
jennifer benson schuldt on December 22, 2014 at 9:31 am
I’m so glad to hear that God is removing things from your “prayer box.” I know I should not be surprised when God answers prayer, but I am always amazed. He truly listens to us and cares for us.
“Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard;
He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver” (Psalm 66:8-10 NIV).
jennifer benson schuldt on December 22, 2014 at 9:24 am
Thank you for the Christmas blessings. I agree that the season brings worries along with joy. Will this person like his gift? Will I make it to church on time? Will I remember to mail that package? It’s interesting to compare what Christmas truly is, with what it has become. I wonder what Jesus thinks of all of it… 🙂
alseeking on December 21, 2014 at 9:09 am
Thanks for this Jennifer.
I was in church this morning and we were all asked to make a ‘prayer garland’. On one strip we put one thing we wanted to ask God this Christmas, and on the other to put the name of a person we wanted to bring before God this Christmas. And to ask Him to come close to them.
On my piece I put the words fear & anxiety. When all the garland was created it was put on the Christmas tree next to the alter.
When I arrived home I read your thoughts and quotes from the Bible. It was a prayer answered.
Thank you God!
Also it brought to mind what Muke Whittmer said in the ODJ on 24th Oct 2014 in his ‘the risk to love’. He quoted 1John ch4:v18: ‘Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.’
Thanks to God for ODJ.
Happy Christmas to all at ODJ & all your readers.
Winn Collier on December 21, 2014 at 2:37 pm
I think many of us overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. This is a good prayer.
jennifer benson schuldt on December 22, 2014 at 9:53 am
Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. As Winn said, I think it is a common problem. That said, this time of year can intensify anxiety. Here are some verses that have helped me find breathing room: Psalm 34:4-6, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 43:2.
On another note, I like the idea of a prayer garland! Last year on New Year’s Eve, each person in my family wrote down some prayer requests for 2014. We sealed them in an envelope and we will open them this New Year’s Eve and reflect on how God handled them.
alseeking on December 21, 2014 at 9:23 am
Sorry, I quoted from ‘Mike Whittmer’s entry. Not Muke Whittmer!
Winn Collier on December 21, 2014 at 2:28 pm
inhaling a worry and exhaling a prayer – I’ll remember that.
Purpose on December 22, 2014 at 6:54 am
, ‘If you think you can handle it better than God, it’s coming out [of the box].’
…exactly what i have done, taken it out of the box.
This is very thought provoking …even scary.
jennifer benson schuldt on December 22, 2014 at 9:56 am
Purpose,
I have “taken things out of the box” too. Seems like the core issue is trust. Do we really trust God to handle the things we’ve committed to Him? He invites us to do this (1 Peter 5:7).
Purpose on December 23, 2014 at 9:34 am
J, i trust God that He is trustworthy and without faukt – but i don’t quite feel that i have reached the point in the ‘queue’ where its my ‘turn’ kinda thing – where the ‘windows of heaven’ are open and the light at the end of the tunnel is behind you.
sjfahringer on December 29, 2014 at 11:28 am
Jennifer, this is really good….and challenging. Thanks for sharing!
jennifer benson schuldt on December 29, 2014 at 6:55 pm
Thanks!
Mike Wittmer on December 30, 2014 at 2:48 pm
I just had this conversation with a friend a couple of days ago–how is it possible to give our cares to God. Wish I had the “God box” then, but I’ll use it in the future. Thanks!