“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” — Psalm 55:22
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The season was going great until an injury put you on the sidelines, your playing time decreased or you fell into a slump. Adversities like these can bring on anxiety, which crushes your spirit and makes things worse. As believers in Christ, how are we to respond?
When life’s circumstances weigh us down, God encourages us to turn to Him and allow Him to sustain us. He even commands us not to be anxious! He instructs us in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7).
Specifically, we are to:
1) Pray, i.e., worship God for who He is. In doing so, we recognize that nothing is too difficult for Him.
2) Petition, i.e., pray for the needs of others. Not being so laser-focused and consumed with ourselves helps us keep things in perspective.
3) Give thanks, i.e., recognize what God has done for us in the past. That builds our faith and belief that God can work in the current situation.
4) Present our requests, i.e., be open, honest and specific about our situation and anxiety. Then, leave it with Him, trusting He will work in the circumstances.
As we do this, God promises we will experience His peace — a peace that is beyond our ability to understand. He assures that He will guard our hearts (emotions) and minds (thoughts) as we trust in Christ. The next time the anxiety of adversity arises, turn to God in prayer and experience His peace.
— Karen Zando, Orlando Pride team chaplain
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