“If the LORD had not been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land of] silence. If I say, 'My foot has slipped,' Your compassion and lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your comforts delight me.” Psalm 94:17-19 (AMP)

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, says that we should not be anxious about anything, that the peace of Christ will sustain us. Paul is not wrong, but his desire for us is not always a reality in our lives. It is something to strive for as we grow in faith, but it isn't immediately attainable for most of us. We will have anxious times in   life, when fears, rational or irrational, take hold. 

What can we do when our mind races, our heart beats faster, and it feels like we are carrying a weight that is too much for us? The psalmist has some practical advice. First, name your anxiety or fear out loud. Sometimes speaking it out loud takes some of its power away. Don't sit in silence. Second, remember God's love for you. God created you, loves you always, and wants you to have a full and abundant life. What is the combination of these two things? The answer is prayer. Let God know how you feel and let God know what you need. 

“If God gives attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matthew 6:30-34; The Message). 

Have a blessed - and peaceful - Thanksgiving!