Yesterdays, Anxiety, and Tomorrows

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears*

Sometimes emotions catch you sideways and you have to stop and figure out what just happened. As I write this I’m thinking about our eldest’s upcoming wedding in a few short weeks. I am happy for him and his fiancé, I believe God has brought them together, and I’m optimistic about their future together. And my mama heart is really struggling with how quickly his childhood went. Wasn’t it just yesterday I was trying to figure out how to care for a newborn? Wasn’t it just yesterday he was singing “Awesome God” with a huge, 5-year-old grin? Wasn’t it just yesterday he was angry at the move our family was making? Wasn’t it just yesterday he was meeting new friends on the robotics team? Wasn’t it just yesterday he played guitar for church for the first time? For the thousands of “yesterdays” we’ve had together, I am grateful.

All throughout my history
Your faithfulness has walked beside me
The winter storms made way for spring
In every season, from where I’m standing

I see the evidence of Your goodness
All over my life, all over my life
I see Your promises in fulfillment
All over my life, all over my life**

The years have indeed flown swiftly, but I do see the evidence of God’s goodness all over his life and our life – imperfect as it has been – together as a family. I am so grateful for his heart to serve God and God’s call on his life.

But that doesn’t mean his upcoming wedding doesn’t give me worry. No, wait; scratch that. I am absolutely NOT to worry. Jesus said that I can’t add any days to my life by worrying. He said HE will take care of my kids. He said I was to bring them to him and trust him with them. That’s hard for this mama to do, even though I know it’s right. Now this parenting thing moves into a whole new place – parenting married children. Perhaps you or someone you know has also crossed this threshold of life. This is when the “rubber meets the road” in the Apostle Paul’s admonition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

What should we be anxious about? NOTHING. What and who should we pray about? EVERYTHING. How should we pray? WITH THANKSGIVING.

The Psalmist reminds us that, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me.” (Psalm 94:19 AMP) When the anxiety begins to build, we must take those thoughts captive and focus on God’s grace, God’s comfort, God’s peace, and God’s love. Then the Light of God can crowd out the whispers of anxiety and fear that always threaten to sink us.

I didn’t realize I was going to write about anxiety when I began this post. I thought we would pray for young married couples. But, evidently, God needed to do this work today in me, and maybe in you, too. Even if you don’t have a young married couple you pray for, you can pray for marriages in general. And a quick glance about the world gives us plenty to pray for: the hurting, the ill, the broken, the corrupt, and so much more. Remember: Jesus warned us we would have trials, but he has overcome the world.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33 AMP)

So, in the end, let us seek his perfect peace for marriages, the hurting, and the world.

God of Peace,

For all the beautiful “yesterdays” and glorious “tomorrows” of life, we give you thanks. For the gift of this day we give you thanks. We come to you today aware of the many, many, many situations and reasons in our world that can create anxiety, strife, struggle, and fears within us. Today we pray for young couples, for marriages, for the sick, the hurting the broken, the traumatized, the needy, the corrupt, the victims, and everyone who needs to know your perfect peace. Bring provision, healing, and grace to these situations. Fill us with all joy and peace in our believing; help us to overflow with peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help us be confident and undaunted by the messes of this world because we know without a doubt that you have conquered this world and you have the victory. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, AMEN.

“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?… “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:27, 34 GW)

*from “Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof by lyricist Sheldon Harnick

**from “Evidence” by Ed Cash, Ethan Hulse, Josh Baldwin; © Bethel Music Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing