Prayer for peace in the midst of health concerns
By Christine Brown
Bible Reading:
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for everything. And you will experience God’s peace that we can understand. – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT.
Listen or read:
After returning from a fun, active family vacation, the nagging pain continued, ensuring a visit to the clinic. I have never crossed my idea that this could be serious because I have no cancer for years. I settled in a place of self-satisfaction where my health was concerned, and lived my life with a hopeful outlook. But here I was blind to the doctor’s assessment. I was not ready to hear the word “cancer” again.
Suddenly, due to these health concerns I’m facing now, I felt a familiar level of worry and uneasy surface. And I had been going through this battle with concern before, so I knew that God needed perfect peace to accomplish it.
Health concerns can remove our daily peace and make us vulnerable to things like worry, stress, and anxiety. Many decisions need to be made, such as which treatment is best, how to manage things, and how the diagnosis will affect your finances. Our thoughts can be paralyzed by the severity of our situation. We fear the consequences of making the wrong choice, not to mention the unknown, but how it will affect our lives and our families.
Thankfully, God’s Word provides an antidote to the worries and anxiety that arises in health concerns.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he urged fellow believers of Christ to continue to focus on the goodness of their hearts. I think we all can agree that it’s easier than they say, especially when we face catastrophic diagnosis or deal with chronic illness. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver for someone with a health struggle, you will understand how to overwhelm your mind with the difficulties of everyday life. But Paul explained exactly what we must do to focus on God’s good, even on the most difficult days.
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for everything. And you will experience God’s peace that we can understand. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Recently I have experienced a setback in my current health struggle. As I lay in a hospital bed, my disappointment grew. I picked up my phone and checked the message, less habit than interest. A friend sent me an encouraging email from the Philippians in this biblical aisle. I turned to them in times of worry, so I recognized the poem. However, my friend cited a different translation from what I read before. As the aisles calmed my ache and heart, I felt a new peace coming to me. Jesus’ peace is powerful and effective. It goes beyond our understanding and is available at any moment. I needed that reminder from a friend. Jesus provides peace freely to his people. All we need to do is ask.
If you or someone you love is experiencing health concerns, I pray that today’s Bible refreshes your soul with the gift of Jesus’ perfect peace. Let us seek more peace from God, as we follow Paul’s instructions and trust him with our health concerns. Let us long for us to protect our hearts and minds.
Let’s pray:
Dear God, thank you for listening to my prayers today. I am overwhelmed by health concerns and need your help. Knowing you are with me, I look to you. When I approach you, Lord, I approach me. (James 4:8) While facing many unknowns, I need a fresh filling of your peace to calm my mind and mind. Recently, I have felt that I have become more worried and anxious within myself and consume my thoughts. It’s difficult to focus on your good while enduring the physical and emotional pain of this journey. Jesus, you provide peace that surpasses all understanding. It is your gift for those who believe in you. Thank you for your precious gift of perfect peace to overcome the worries that threaten me. Follow the instructions in your words that tell me to bring my requests to you on Thanksgiving. I am grateful for your promise to fill me with peace that protects my heart and heart. Knowing that you are good and loyal, I trust you with my health concerns. Thank you for being Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is my peace. I pray in your name, amen.
Photo credit: ©istock/getty images plus/gorodenkoff
For more spiritual growth resources, check out today’s devoted author Christine Brown’s 5-day email prayer, how to be free from bitterness. Find out more about Bible women. Find encouragement to “be more than yourself through God’s Word” at Kristine’s website, Morethanyourself.com.
Pray through Psalm 15: Prayer to those who never shake up
Are you tired of being spiritually exhausted? You’ve come to the right place! Join us in the age of prayer, reflection and meditation. Put your day’s luggage behind you, refresh, update, and reconnect with God. Who is the one who never shakes you up? Explore poem sal 15 with today’s 10 minutes of devotion. If you like what you hear, you won’t miss an episode.
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