“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
Matthew 6:27 NLT
Everything seemed so bright. We had a wonderful life, complete with happy kids, good salaries, and a hopeful future. But with one crisis after another, that life faded away, leaving behind a pile of debt, unemployment, arguments, and so much anxiety.
What happened to my life, God? Did we do something wrong? Tell me what kind of magic-button prayer will get us out of this mess!
I cried every day. I begged God to rescue us from the land of uncertainty and give us back our old life. I coped with the only strategy I knew: worrying. I thought I could protect myself from more pain if I imagined all the worst-case scenarios in advance: What if we can’t pay this month’s bills or the medical test? What if we need a new transmission? What if our life never gets better? However, obsessing over my “what if” worries didn’t make me feel better. Instead, I felt worse!
Maybe you’re like me, faced with an uncertain season of life and stuck in the middle of hardship or heartache. Jesus understands. Jesus knew one day His closest friends would be fearful of the future and worries would overwhelm their hearts and minds. So, before His death, He made this promise: “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 NLT).
The peace Jesus gives provides supernatural calm in the midst of chaos and hardship. It’s the kind of peace we absolutely need when we’re not sure what will happen next.
It took a few years of stressed-out days and sleepless nights for me to learn to surrender my worrying ways in favor of Jesus’s peace. Though our difficult season continued, God was faithful to remind me of His promised peace.
We can rest assured that God’s promise doesn’t have an expiration date. It never runs empty. And when our “what if” worries try to steal our calm, we are only a prayer away from unshakable faith and receiving shalom from the Prince of Peace.
by Barb Roose, as published in 100 Days of Strength in Any Struggle
Pray with us.
On the first Sunday of every month, we make space to intentionally pray for one another. Do you feel like Barb today, asking, What happened to my life, God? Are you in desperate need of the peace Jesus promises? Share your heart in the comments, then pause to pray for another sister.
Together we will encounter the Prince of Peace.
Leave a Comment
Thank you for the encouragement! I too am in a season of medical struggles and financial hardship. I am trying to focus on gratitude, and trusting that God will provide. In Susie Larson’s book, Fully Alive, she suggests that God is teaching us lessons that we need to learn through our struggles and to remain hopeful in all things! Excellent read! God bless!
Dear Father, I want to come pray for Linda, may she be so aware of Your love for her in this season, amidst her current trials. May she experience that peace that goes beyond all understanding and a supernatural joy. I come trust with her for Your provision and breakthrough and healing at the right time, but thank You, like she said, that there is great purpose in this time and that You are working it together for Your good. In Jesus name, Amen.
This article is so encouraging, I am also in a space where I am struggling with my health and friendships, and grieving how things used to be. I would like to ask prayer for true surrender and help to trust God with all of my heart in this season.
God I pray for blessing of Christ loving friends for Barbara. For the Holy Spirit to help Barbara how to fully surrender her worries, life and love to you. Please provide your amazing peace over Barbara her family and her life which only you can give. In Jesus precious name I ask these things, Amen
Barbara, thank you for praying for me! I am asking Jesus to help you with your health struggles and to be your friend while you wait on earthly friendships to find their way to your heart. Keep believing and keep an open heart!
Please pray for healing of my health, calming of my anxiety to disappear and to grow so deep in my relationship with Christ. Also that we are able to get this loan so we can finish our renovation it has been so very long. Thank you.
Dear Lord, I pray for total healing for Jas this morning, body, mind and emotions. Ler her surrender fully to You and fill her with Your peace so that she may fully live out her calling in You. We also pray that you make a way for her family to finish the renovation they have begun, and that You would be glorified through all of this. Thank you, Jesus!
Please pray for my son, Justin, who’s going through some tough tribulations. Please pray for him to know God is always with him. Pray for him to get guidance and encouragement from the Holy Spirt. In Jesus name Amen
I lift up Diane’s son in prayer to you Lord. Teach him your ways, to trust in you, to receive your peace.
In Jesus name, Amen
I too am having family issues and stresses. My husband and i are not doing well. Things seem so foreign all around. But, i am praying and seeking, trusting. I lift up Dianne’s Son Justin , that he will know God, and know he is not alone. That God would place someone in his life that will help him in his daily walk and give him encouragement. Amen
After my husband’s death, I made the difficult decision to leave my home, friends, and church family to move to another state to be close to my surviving son and his family. In the last five years the Lord has blessed me with a good home, a new church family, friends, and opportunities to spend time with my family and make memories with my grandsons. But as you described, my son’s life fell apart and he is without his very good job, separated from his wife, and will most likely be moving to another city for employment. I am 71 and don’t want to start over, again. My son’s anxiety from his situation became crippling and damaging to his family relationships. I am so grateful that we have hope from the Lord and are looking forward to what he has planned for us. I am grateful for every blessing and that we can turn to the Lord during these trying times. My close friend has prayed for us and my son’s situation. I do understand what it feels like when the blessings that you are enjoying disappear without warning.
Jan I’m lifting you and your son’s situation up in prayer this morning. May you feel his peace and comfort as you navigate these times. Praying for you sister.
Please pray for ultimate healing in my back which has gone on far too long and for the awful anxiety that accompanies the pain. I cherish the prayers.
Dear Lord, please walk by Kim’s side on her path of back pain as she takes steps towards complete healing and freedom of her back pain and anxiety.
Bless her with an increased faithful, knowing spirit that relief is coming.
Kathleen
Please pray for my two adult sons that their burdened hearts and minds may be healed and protected from pain. They have carried too much for too long.
I feel this Kathleen. I’m lifting your sons up in prayer this morning and will continue to pray over them. Thank you for your beautiful prayer. I desperately want to be encouraged that relief is coming. Thank you!
Thank you, Kim.
Your words bring comfort to my determined spirit and devoted heart for Jesus to open my dear sons’ eyes as He did with the apostle Paul.
Please pray for the Tampa Bay area. My husband and I were blessed as we live on a bluff and except for a few palm fronds and losing part of our soffit we were fine. However, a LOT of women in my Thursday morning Bible study live on the beach and they all had major damage. If this one stays on our course I’m not sure what could happen to the people living on the beaches.
Please pray for A rich spiritual life for my family. And all of the fruit of the Spirit.
In Jesus name.
Linda
Struggling to hold on to hope, to keep my eyes lifted, and to take captive every thought in the midst of Physical pains.
You are not alone, Susan. God is beside you always, and I am praying for you now. Praying for you to have hope, comfort, encouragement, healing, and a peaceful mind in Christ.
I was diagnosed a year ago at age 66 with a Covid heart which left me with 3rd stage heart failure. I also have developed Afib with heartbeats reaching in the 220s. I had an ablation two weeks ago and am still going in and out of Afib. Because of medical cost, I have incurred credit card debt on a fixed income. My car died and we replaced it with what we could afford and the “new” car is still in the shop for repairs. It’s been at the dealer’s service dept more than my driveway. I recite John 14:1 almost daily! I don’t put my comment to complain, I just know there is power in prayer!! James 5:16 This world is not my home, I’m only passing through! Our God is the victor in all things!!
Thank You God for helping Ammie. Please bring miraculous healing to her heart and body. Please also, bless her financially and with a car that is safe to drive in. Nothing is too hard for You, Father God. Thank You for giving Aimee peace. Thank You God for helping her! All glory to You God! Fill her with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, amen! ❤️
Dear Lord,
I pray for all who have left comments. Lord, Father you know our needs and have always prepared our way. We know you are faithful and show us grace daily with abundant blessings. We just ask to be strengthened when we grow weary. May we feel the presence of your Holy Spirit. Lay your healing hands on the sick, touch the hearts of the wandering souls that they may seek you. We lay our burdens of this world at your feet Lord. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, that we can be saved. In His name, I pray.
Amen
Thank You God for hearing and answering every prayer according to Your perfect will. Please help all of our brothers and sisters in the south east of the USA affected by the recent hurricane. God bless all who are going to help them and the animals in need. Anyone who is still of need of rescuing please watch over rescue teams to get there in time and to provide them with the help they need. You are mighty and loving God and I thank You for always being with us and helping those in need. Thy will be done. In Jesus’ Name, amen
I would like prayer for my 67 year old sister, Tina. Within the last 2 years she has had a massive stroke, leaving her right arm paralyzed while she walks with a limp. Then her husband of 20 years died of cancer within a week of diaganosis. His 5 children, whom she helped raised, visited, & helped financially all flew up from the south for a memorial service and never invited her, yet posted pictures all over Facebook.
She went into a downward spiral, not bathing, not cleaning house, not taking out garbage, not collecting mail, not cleaning up outside her condo & letting her license plate elapse on her only car. (Her house is a maze of stacked boxes, garbage bags, papers with only a small path to walk through. Some rooms are completely filled with “stuff”. I had contacted every agency possible who have attempted contacting her, but she refuses to answer the phone, answer the door, and only occasionally will read a PM sent to her. She has had aprox. 8-10 welfare checks & as long as she answers the door & sounds coherent there is nothing the police can do. I live an hour away, & she has only allowed me to see her twice in 2 years.
After much prayer six different agencies were able to meet at her home at the same time and she had to open the door for the police. (No one was allowed inside). She finally agreed to go by ambulance to the hospital. She was filthy, matted hair, and had food all over her clothing that looked like she had wore for weeks. The hospital let her go home without a psych report. Tina refused to let me talk to the nurse, so I am still in the dark.
Each agency went back & wrote up a report stating that she had mental issues & started proceedings. I have heard nothing from anyone because of the privacy laws. But I do hear from a caring Individual on the condo board whose mother went through the same issues. Now Tina’s condo is in foreclosure. Today she just opened my PM from 3 days ago asking what our family can do to help. So far I have heard nothing.
Please pray that she opens her heart & mind to God’s presence and realize that she needs help. She thinks that everything is okay & promises to take care of her many issues but never does. God alone can help her.
Thank you for your prayers.
Joyce, I am praying God will guide Tina’s steps in what is a very distressing situation for all involved.
May He bring her to a place where she will receive the goodness and loving support of you and others yearning to bring her out of her present challenges. God bless you for sharing your love and concern for your sister.
There, but for the grace of God, go so many others,
who are trying to keep family members with mental health issues safe and sound.
Kathleen
Please pray for the Lord to send a miracle to heal the brokenness in our family. May our family be covered with the blood of Jesus
Please pray for the Lord to send a miracle to heal the brokenness in our family. May our family be covered with the blood of Jesus Jesus said to pray continually , so I am.
Praying for you and your family.
I saw the Dr for reoccurring back pain n stiffness. My spine n dies conti ue to degenerate. I’ve had 2 back surgeries n now the only thing the Dr can do is manage my pain. I am a gifted violinist who loves to share her musical gifts w others through mass n the symphony
I’m afraid of being paralyzed in the future n other uncertainties w my back. The pain n stiffness is constant. Thankfully swimming is helping . Please pray for me. Ty Mary
Mary, of what a joy it would be to hear you play! Praying for your pain and healing now. Surely God will sustain you. Surely your fears are safest in his hands.
God is great; always never changing and supplying my needs. I am lifting my health issues to God in prayer. I am blessed with new mercies every morning. God is fighting my battle with cancer. I know this because He promised that when I am weak, He is strong. I know He is beside me and I am never alone.
Joni, your faith is beautiful! I’m agreeing with you in prayer. Great is His faithfulness!
Please pray for healing and miracles now. Thank you so, so much! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Praying for you.
I have just come home from the hospital- to my husband who recently had a stroke and a son with no job and our car headgasket is blown. I was told to ” rest”- but someone-? Me- has to do the dishes, laundry, take out the garbage, clean the bathroom and take care of the dog. I’m exhausted and frustrated and asking- pleading to God for help. I don’t have any family close by to help. I’m afraid to ask God ” what next ” because I can’t afford to pay bills, groceries, and medical too.
Praying for you and your family.
I’ve been dealing with some ongoing health issues for the past 3 years. I’ve had numerous doctor’s appointments and all seem to have the same conclusion: something doesn’t add up or something is wrong but I don’t know what. Nothing seems to bring an answer for my symptoms and how they are making me feel.
So, I just want to ask for prayers for peace and healing.
Also, I just want to pray for all of the comments mentioned before me and after my comment. I want to pray that the Lord is with you in all your needs and hurts. I pray that support is given wherever it is needed. May you feel His love, strength, peace and healing all around us. Amen
And to those before me, I am praying for you. Remember that Jesus loves all of us, that He has good plans, that His strength is made perfect in our weakness; and that His grace is enough for us. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4.4). We can be still and rest in our Father’s arms.
I definitely need prayer. My financial and medical struggles seem to be taken me under and I can’t catch a breath. I’m extremely discouraged and feel as if the Lord has left me behind and given my dreams to others. I’ve been in the valley for several years now and I don’t know if I will ever have a joyful life again. I’m just so tired of surviving and want to thrive. I want to help others more but it is all I can do to get through a day will all the issues and no relief in sight.
Praying for you now.
Struggling through a time of intense anxiety related to health and life circumstances; Jesus has been so faithful to encourage daily, and yet I do feel so weak and needy.
Prayers for peace Janine and restored health. Remember, when you’re weak, He is strong! Continue to trust and look for His goodness.
For two years I’ve been begging God to give me my old life back! I was just journaling about that earlier today, having finally realized that God’s “no” to restoring my old life may be His “yes” to another prayer; protecting me from what isn’t mine. So, tonight I’m surrendering. Again. And tomorrow I’ll probably need to do it all over again. I’m determined to walk into the life He has planned. Whatever it is.
This is so brave; yes to Jesus is always the right answer. With you in that. Blessings! Be strong and courageous!
Praying!