He Has Got This

Happy New Year! Ah, the joys of a brand new year. Clean slate. New goals. Saying good-bye to the awfulness of 2013 (well, it was for me) and hello to brand new!
So.
I was given a gorgeous devotional by a friend of mine and I really like the daily readings. And what a wonderful writer! Not too flowery, you know? Anyhoo, I was on retreat this past weekend, because I need to go on them every few months so I don't lose my mind and get all stabby (stabby: so frustrated and tired that you want to stab something) and I brought along my book. 

On Sunday, I read the following:
"When you bring Me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before Me. Speak to Me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank Me for the answers that I have set into motion long before you can discern results.  When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep stating your concerns to Me, you will live in a state of tension.  When you thank Me for how I am answering your prayers, your mind-set becomes much more positive..." (Sarah Young, 'Jesus Calling')

Did you see that?

Now, this hit me hard. I mean, sure I've prayed for things numerous times. I have thanked God for the ways He began responding. However, the part about not asking again and thanking Him instead... that's just different somehow.  Because all of a sudden, you're smiling. Your heart becomes full because you realize and truly believe that God is indeed working on your requests.  And there is something so relaxing about saying, 'thank you'. And all of a sudden, you feel the weight off your shoulders because you know that HE HAS GOT THIS.  He does. Why do we forget this ALL the time? I know I do.

"When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In GOD, whose word I praise, in GOD I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"  Psalm 56:3-4

Being afraid is very common. Mostly for women. We have control issues. We become afraid when something doesn't work out the way we expect/plan it to.  And it makes us grouchy. I know I get grouchy. I know I'm a control-freak (pretty sure I admitted this before). 

I mentioned this reading to my son, who is now, a very precious, nine.  I mentioned how from now on, instead of asking for prayer requests, we would be thankful for the requests He is already working on. And he reminded me that we have legions of angels watching over us, sent from our Heavenly Father, fighting for us, nudging us, sometimes speaking with us as strangers.  And again, a huge sigh of relief pushes everything off of me, because I know that He has got THIS.

I honestly don't know what I would do if I didn't have Jesus.  I know I would be a wreck. I know I'd be afraid, angry most of the time... kind of like a beaten dog, left outside when the family moved away.  Actually, that was me, over 11 years ago.  Terrified, beaten down, exhausted.  Thanks be to our LORD who loves us, unconditionally and makes sure we are held tightly in His strong hands, and that we are indeed taken care of.  Our finances, our relationships, our jobs, our children...He's watching out for us. And all we have to do, is bring Him our concerns, trust Him to fix them, and just be thankful.

Oh, dear LORD. Keep us thankful.

Jenn Kelly is an author who is trying new things. She recently joined the Capital Geek Girls, and is now writing monthly columns on ... superheroes. She is also shooting for the stars and working on a screenplay. And homeschooling. You know, because she has nothing better to do...you can find her here: www.jennkelly.com