Yesterday’s reflection took me to a familiar verse—one I’d already chatted about last week in a conversation about prayer. Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It’s comforting… and also challenging.
Because I do bring my requests to God. I lay them out like items from a picnic basket – my worries, my fears, my concerns for people I love. I try to be honest and open, to do exactly what this verse says.
And then? I pack it all back up again and carry it with me.
I wonder if anyone else does that.
It’s not that I don’t trust God. I do. Rationally, I believe God can handle far more than I can. But emotionally? Letting go feels unnatural. Especially when it comes to people I love; how can I just leave those concerns at God’s feet and walk away?
But maybe prayer isn’t about pretending our worries don’t exist. Maybe it’s more like clearing clutter from a dining table.
You know that moment when you’re trying to share a meal with someone, but the table is piled high with unopened post, paperwork, and laundry that still hasn’t found a home? There’s no space for connection until you move all that stuff aside.
That’s what prayer can be. Not just handing over our fears, but making room. Saying, “Here it is, Lord – all of it – and now I want to sit with You.”
We might still feel the weight of our concerns. But we’re no longer holding them alone. And in that space, peace, unexpected, inexplicable peace, can begin to grow.
It reminds me of something I have on a poster at home and at work. It says:
“I am God. Today I’ll be handling all your problems. Please remember that I don’t need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you can’t handle—do not attempt to resolve it! Kindly put it in the S-F-J-T-D box: the Something For Jesus To Do box. It will be addressed in My time, not yours. Once the matter has been placed in the box, do not hold onto it or attempt to remove it—holding on or removing it will delay the resolution of your problem! If it’s a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult Me in prayer to be sure it’s the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep, nor do I slumber, there’s no reason for you to lose any sleep. Rest, My child. If you need to contact Me, I’m only a prayer away.”
Maybe I need to read that more often.
So here’s my gentle challenge today—to myself and to you: what if we really did try to leave it with God? What if we let the clutter go, even just for today, and made room at the table?
In that space, God’s peace has a way of showing up—often quietly, always faithfully.
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