I woke up with a vague sense of anxiety yesterday morning. 

At first I thought it was because  it was 6:15 and I panicked thinking I was late getting up for work.  Then I realized it was Sunday and I had more time.  And then I realized the anxiety wasn’t going away.

Have you ever had one of those mornings where it takes you a few minutes of sleepy consciousness to remember why you’re feeling unsettled?

There’s been a lot going on in my life lately.  New challenges. Things I’m trying to sort out. Things I’m trying to manage on my own.  And they came to the forefront of my first waking moments.

I don’t like waking up that way.

But waking up that way was God’s way of drawing me closer to Himself.  He drew me out to my kitchen table, and then He drew me to Philippians 4:6.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. “

Really?  Try to find something to be thankful for in the midst of my uneasiness? Before I make my requests?  Despite my hesitation, I tried it.  I wrote down everything I could find to be thankful for about my particularly anxiety provoking situations. 

And you know what?  It worked.  It’s hard to be anxious when you’re counting your blessings.

The next verse says, “and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It did indeed surpass understanding.  My circumstances didn’t change.  But my heart did.

Be anxious….for nothing. 

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Matthew 6:26

Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  Psalm 55:22