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

This last weekend, Katie and I took on an anxious assignment. Our nephew was getting married in Los Angeles, California and we were excited to go. There was a set date, place and time we were supposed to BE… IF we wanted to witness and enjoy this special event. About a month ago I started planning. A week ago, we started getting ready. Looking back, our entire trip was centered around 3 worldly devices. A calendar, a clock and a GPS.

Katie and I do not have vocations that permit dropping everything to just GO! Preparations and plans MUST be made for substitutes so that in our absence, what WE do can continue while we are gone. That mindset requires thinking ahead and then planning for our own absence. It is actually harder to plan to GO than it is if we just stayed! In reading this verse today, I have to admit it was IMPOSSIBLE to live WITHOUT anxiety while looking at the clock and GPS. Or is it?

My friend Bob had been in the hospital for about a week, and had been told that there was nothing they could do for him. I wanted to get up to see him before I went to LA Last Saturday, so at 8pm Friday, the night before, I went to see Bob. When I walked in… he was out. I could tell he was anxious. He could not talk or focus on me, but moved as though trying to get comfortable. I read the Word and prayed, but it did not help. When the nurse came in, I asked if she could give him something make him more comfortable. Then I left.

While at the airport, I received news that Bob had passed away Saturday Morning. Bob was finally home and AT REST! The thought made me smile, though I confess, I was a little jealous. Our talks of what Heaven would be like was no longer conjecture to Bob. He was LIVING where anxiousness has no home! His Faith was now SIGHT! Me? I had a date, place and time where I had to be. Or did I?

I could tell you the frustration as Katie used the GPS to navigate while I drove in LA Traffic! She sometimes gave the wrong directions and I sometimes steered us the wrong way. We DID make it to everything we needed to. But I realize now that, had we NOT made it, the wedding would STILL have gone ahead. Had we missed the plane, it would STILL have flown. Had we not planned for substitutes, the school and the church would still have gone on. So what is the lesson? I believe maybe God is trying to tell me that I am to give HIM MY REQUESTS! NOT HIS ASSIGNMENTS!      OUCH!