Don't worry!

      WOW!   In the last three and half weeks I have had many reminders from various sources to "Don't Worry!".  Facebook has told me, Instagram has told me, Email devotions have told me... all with the Biblical reference Philippians 4:6 that has been the constant for each of these sources.
       It says...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Phil. 4:6 ESV

       Breaking this down phrase by phrase it starts with... do not be anxious about ANY THING.
ANY THING, let me see what have I been anxious about these last three and half weeks, I have been anxious about how we are going to pay the bills since I lost my job those three and half weeks ago. I've been anxious as to whether I will find another job before my paychecks run out at the end of the month.  I have been anxious that I won't find a job before the end of the summer when our savings run out.  I have been anxious that I am too old.   I have been anxious that we will have to use the food pantry.  I have been anxious that we may lose the house.  I have been anxious that I am unwanted.  I have been anxious that I am not worthy.  I have been anxious.....the list goes on....BUT Paul tells us to not be anxious about ANY THING....ANY THING....not the compound word anything but separating it out to say ANY THING.  ANY THING that takes my mind off of Him.  ANY THING that can be replaced.  ANY THING that the circumstances are telling me the opposite.
       BUT in EVERY THING by prayer....EVERY THING by prayer,  GOD is in control of it all.  HE knows the whys and the what fors that I have been striving to figure out and am at a loss to do.  HE knows that I will have what I need when I need it.  HE will provide as HE has always done. EVERY THING like the last couple of paychecks. EVERY THING like savings. EVERY THING like no job prospects. In EVERY THING I need to be in prayer and with THANKSGIVING tell GOD my requests.  It doesn't say HE is a magician or a genie.  It doesn't say HE will grant those requests immediately but it does say in the following verse (Phil. 4:7) " And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
        With thanksgiving, being thankful for the last 2 paychecks, being thankful that we have some savings, being thankful that I am educated, being thankful that I am healthy, being thankful that I have a wonderful family.  Then His peace, which surpasses all understanding, something beyond our contemplation, something our tiny little minds can not begin to get, something that we will never be able to grasp entirely...His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  His peace will wrap around our hearts and minds and bring soothing.  It will ease the pain, the worry, the unknown.  HE knows our situation, our circumstances, our finances before we even utter the words. Philippians goes on the remind us to think on the things above..."whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is ANY THING worthy of praise, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS." (Phil 4:8)  It doesn't tell us to think about the what ifs, the who did this or that, the whys, the why nots, those things that are negative.  It doesn't say to dwell on those things.  It says to dwell on the things that are positive.  I did my best,  I touched hearts,  I taught well,  I was honest,  I followed God with all my heart,  I stepped out in faith and the Lord answered.  These things are what to consider.  These things are reminders that God is working and that I need to just trust Him to continue His work in me. 
         Now that summer is here, I am to rest.  I am to stop striving to figure it all out and just rest.  Rest in knowing that God will work it all out, whatever the "it" is.  Rest in knowing that we do have money to pay the bills.  Rest in knowing that we won't lose the house or have to use the food pantry, although eating out might come to an end!  Rest in knowing that above all else GOD IS IN CONTROL.  He knows it all and He will make "all things work together for good." (Rom 8:28) .  I will rejoice in all things.  I am as Paul says later on in Philippians 4:11,  learning in whatever situation to be content because I can do ALL things through Him who strengthens me.  So my best advice from Facebook, Instagram and emails has been Don't Worry.  I rest in knowing that the Lord has me in the palm of His hand safely and securely.