"Fear Not"

The Christmastimes of yesteryear,

Flood through my thoughts as it grows near,

And when the angel said no fear,

The ancient story soothes.

‘Cause there’s much to trouble me,

So hard to let them go, you see,

I know God says to be fear free,

That’s how the Spirit moves.

Old devil will intimidate,

If we don’t firmly shut that gate,

But what God says he can’t negate,

God lifts my worried soul.

The things that I can’t change are clear,

Some are people very dear,

But whether they are far or near,

I cannot make them whole.

Put them all in Jesus’ hands,

‘Cause in the end I can’t, He can,

Accomplish all that’s in His plan,

I trust in Him alone.

And when we do He gives us peace,

That comes to all who find release,

From worry and their burdens cease,

His grace to them is shown.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

Don’t worry about anything? Tall order, right? What is God’s answer? To pray about it and then put it in God’s hands. Once there, God promises His peace that transcends understanding. Peace isn’t based on the answer to prayer or even better understanding. Peace comes when we let it go into the Lord’s hands. It passes all understanding, but it comes nonetheless. Those who know this escape worry.

Lord, replace our worry with Your peace, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by J.L. Grief, used by permission. Thanks, John, and God bless you.