Stop and Pray

Prayer in a challenging situation does more than any amount of worry. One thing I am so thankful for is that I was taught as a child to stop and pray about something when I was worried about something. As a “Type-A” person who wants every detail to be correct, I can sometimes drown under the weight of the worry. The pattern of praying about my fears, concerns, and whatever weighs on my mind has served me well.

“Some circumstances are beyond our control, and something as simple as the ringing of a phone, a card in the mail, or a knock on the door can push us off the wire.” –The Red Sea Rules, by Robert J. Morgan (Rule 1)

I always stop and pray when I receive a phone call with bad news. Sometimes I’m praying while I’m on the phone. Prayers don’t have to be long or complicated. A simple breath prayer, “Lord, give me the words to say at this moment,” as the person talks, can be enough to bring God’s presence to the phone call.

The temptation is to ask God why he “did” something to us. James answers this question when he says,

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” –James 1:2 NLT

We’re not to view our troubles as something God has “done.” Instead, we’re to see them as opportunities. From hardships, we grow. From worry, our faith deepens. Whenever life throws something at us that draws us closer to God, we can be thankful for a more profound dependence on him.