“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. ~ Philippians 4:6

It’s too much. It’s not fair, and it’s just too much. A pandemic, with no end in sight, and more questions than answers, not to mention the division in how people feel about what is happening. Loss of jobs, loss of freedom, and loss of lives.

For the second time since the US decided to name hurricanes and tropical storms, we are naming them from letters of the Greek alphabet due to the volume of activity we are seeing.

School looks different. Do we hold school, do we hold only online? Are the numbers increasing? And now, for those of us who are part of the Davenport Community School District, we are left wondering what will happen after the removal of the Superintendent and CFO last Thursday.

Oh, and let us not forget that our country is preparing for our Presidential election, and stress around this subject is through the roof!

In his letter to the people of Philippi, Paul is telling them not to be anxious about anything. Really? Don’t worry, don’t be anxious? Paul certainly doesn’t know me very well.

But that’s just it, Paul does know. He knows that fear can take over and leave us paralyzed. He isn’t saying that if we do worry, that what we are worrying about doesn’t matter. What he is saying is that when we have anxiety, and we are anxious because of everything that is going on within and around us, we are to take it to God in prayer. God hears our prayers, each and every one of them. And when we are beyond words, we have been gifted with the Holy Spirit who will take our deep, anxious sighs, and turn them into words for God to hear.

There isn’t one of us who doesn’t need to let go of anxiety and anxious feelings, especially right now. When you lose your sense of peace, take it to God in prayer. With words, with gestures, with joy, with anger, with happiness, sadness, sorrow, or fear. Give what is hurting you over to God. Know that God hears your pleas, and is waiting to wrap you in Their arms. We are not alone in all of this. Our God is walking with us.

For that, and for so much more, I give thanks and praise, because it is too much, and it isn’t fair.

~ Always Peace, Pastor Heidi