I once heard that feeling stressed is a direct result of a weak prayer life. Ouch.

We are quick to justify our feelings of stress, worry, and anxiety. We convince ourselves that it is understandable (and even admirable) to be stressed and worried.


“I’ve got a lot on my plate.”
“It just means that I care.”
“What else am I supposed to do?”


But Jesus gives us another option. We can be free.

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

What a promise! We hear a lot about the “peace that transcends all understanding,” but did you notice what we needed to do in order to receive it? Pray. Through our obedience to pray to God in “every situation,” He grants us this unbelievable peace that defends and protects our minds and hearts. (Not only does this peace address our current anxieties, but it also helps prevent new ones from breaking through!)
This is not to say, however, that we do not face difficult or painful things in life. Jesus is clear: we will face trouble in this world (John 16:33). Praying does not necessarily mean that our hardships or trials will suddenly disappear. Sometimes we pray and He gives us the strength to withstand hardship, rather than taking it away. But regardless of the outcome of our situation, praying reminds us that we are never alone and allows us to surrender and release our struggles to Him (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
Keep in mind, however, that the power is not in the prayer itself. The power is in Who we are praying to. We are not attaining peace by choosing the most beautiful, perfect, or eloquent words. When we pray, we are realigning our minds and hearts to see Him as Lord and to give up any false sense of control that we may have. Praying gives us peace because it connects us to the Prince of Peace, Jesus. When we have a consistent prayer life, coming to Him daily with thankfulness and laying out all our requests before Him, we can walk with confidence and peace. We don’t have to carry the stress and worry that the world normalizes. We can be free.