The Prayer that Never Fails

There is a series of books* I particularly enjoy where the main character often says, “Let’s pray the prayer that never fails.” Four simple words that are making a huge difference for me in my current season of life (parenting adult children) and current state of mind (worried).

Those four words - THY WILL BE DONE - have become four life-changing, worry-releasing, sleep-enabling words.

Personally, I am finding that I worry more as the parent of adult children than I did when I was the parent of younger children. The decisions they make today are bigger and have bigger consequences. Those same decisions are more complicated and involve a lot of moving pieces.

I have recently become convicted that worry is a sin. When I worry I am basically saying that I do not trust the God of the universe to take care of the difficult situation or the bill coming due or the care needed for a loved one. I know that most of my worry and anxiety is caused by trying to figure it out on my own instead of releasing it fully into God’s hands.

Philippians 4:6–7 says, “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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus . . .”

Isn’t this a goal we should all be striving towards? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Matthew 6:25-34 has a lot to say about worry and God’s care for us ending with these words, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When worries come I can find myself starting to spin. Getting more and more worried. Wandering down an endless rabbit trail of what if’s and worse case scenarios. When I make a choice to stop, pray and state out loud THY WILL BE DONE my worries become smaller and God becomes bigger and the rabbit trail – it becomes straighter.

Jesus said those words when he taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth. as it is in heaven.” He also used those words in Luke 22:42 when Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet, not my will, but yours be done.”

Precious Father, may we come to you as a people who are weary and burdened, knowing that you will give us rest. May our trust in you be large and our worries be small. And may we have the faith to say with utter conviction in every situation - THY WILL BE DONE. Amen.

*Father Tim in the Mitford Series books by Jan Karon. A great read!