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.”

What a powerful reminder that no matter how great or how small, you can take all of your concerns to our Father—He hears and He cares. He will respond always with love and with what is best for our good, sometimes to build faith, sometimes to build character.

Impatience is not pleasing to God. It shows our need for control and lack of faith. Patience shows our trust; we lean and depend on our Lord and so yes, we who have grown to know Him should not be anxious for anything. Pray and Wait Well. “Wait Well” is how Chrystal Evans Hurst describes our waiting as Believers for Christ to answer our prayers and concerns.

I once lost a pair of treasured sunglasses for 3 months! I prayed and prayed for their return, especially since initially, I tried to hide the fact that I’d lost them from my husband! One day after the winter snow had cleared up, I went to the mailbox and happened to look down in the street. There they were, laying in the street intact, not even a scratch on them!

How many times had the mail truck driven up to our mailbox in the last three months? How did the driver not roll over the sunglasses laying in the street? How many people had passed by walking, jogging or riding their bicycle and didn’t decide to pick them up? I believe they were divinely protected by God to show His faithfulness to me. My Father heard my prayers and wouldn’t allow harm to come to my sunglasses. He wanted me to know, "Yes, I heard you, but I wanted to see how you would react to not getting an immediate answer. I wanted to know what you really think of Me.

"Am I just a Genie who answers all your wishes? Am I someone who, if you don’t get what you want, you dismiss or discard me not as your Divine Father but instead label me as another Deadbeat Dad? Or do you accept My decisions, delays and even denials as being the Sovereign will of God who knows and does what is best for you?"

No, He didn’t heal me of some potentially life-ending disease this time, though He has in the past, nor did He swoop down and pull me out from some cataclysmic disaster—though, again, He has before. God smiled on my situation and taught me the lesson of trusting Him in all things. Be anxious for nothing. Pray, trust and Wait Well.