A dear friend sent this prayer by Mama Bettie Lewis this week. It somehow put into words what my heart needed to express. I pray it does the same for you.

Lord,
Thank you for everything I don’t understand today
the delays,
the closed doors,
the moments that felt like setbacks

Pause… breathe… what delays, closed doors, setbacks come to mind?

You were there and
I trust your hand
even when I can’t see your plan.

Pause… breathe… confess your trust in God’s hand and plan.

I surrender what I can’t control,
every fear,
every weight,
every what if
that kept me up last night.
I lay it all at your feet right now.
I’m not taking it to bed with me tonight.

Pause… breathe… surrender your fear and control. Hand over the weight of your burden and every what-if.

Give me peace Lord
Not just sleep, peace.
Quiet my mind, calm my heart
and remind me that you are still working
even when I rest.

Pause… breathe… turn your hands palm up and receive God’s grace-filled peace.

Your word says,
“In peace I will lie down and sleep
for you alone
make me dwell in safety.”

Pause… breathe… imagine what it feels like to dwell in God’s safety.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
_{Philippians 4:4-7 ESV}

May you rejoice again and again in God’s presence. May you turn your anxious, fearful thoughts into requests to the One who holds everything close at hand. And may you discover Peace is guarding your heart and mind. Amen.