Giving it to God… Completely

I had been praying off and on for years about a specific area of my life. It was an area that has caused sleepless nights, intense worry, frustration, and recently panic attacks. I decided it was time to get serious. I was going to focus on this area and pray diligently. For weeks, I prayed everyday, very specifically about this situation in my life, surely God would hear my prayer and answer. Every day, I anxiously awaited an answer to my problem. Everyday my situation was unchanged and my worry grew. Today, however, God responded.

I opened my Bible to read where I had left off but instead Mark 11:24 caught my eye. It says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” At first I was a little bit upset. I thought, “I have been asking in prayer and I haven’t received it.” But then I read what came before this verse… 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

There it was… “Have faith in God… [if anyone] does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” I say I have faith. I think I have faith. But my worry and panic attacks are not the result of faith but the result of doubt and fear. Yes, I am asking God to change my situation but I am not trusting that he actually will. 

Guys, this blew my mind. After I let this truth settle a moment, I prayed… “Dear Lord, forgive me for not fully trusting you to change my situation. You provide for the sparrow, how much more then will you provide for me. I give over my situation to you, this time including all of my fear and worry. I give it to you completely and in your hands I have NO DOUBT that you will be my help and provide for me. Thank you for showing me where my faith was weak and reassuring me that you are with me. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, your love and your grace. Amen.

Is my worry gone? As of today, yes. And I will keep these verses with me to remind me that I need not worry, my faith is in God. 

Mark 11:22-24
Matthew 6:2 -27