The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

When troubles ruffle my best laid plans, anxiety like a weed creeps in. My questions nourish its growth.

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“I had the details prayerfully arranged to ensure the best outcome; what will happen now?”

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One question begets a hundred more; meanwhile, anxiety takes root in my heart. It wraps around my rational mind. It blooms a dozen answers to “what if?” They are all hypothetical, but I fall for them. Those imaginary scenarios flashing across my mind like short films - I believe them.

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But what if I left my questions with God before my anxiety even knew it had a chance? What if my heart could stay strong in spite of the dreaded unknown?

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What if I instead chose joy?

When I cry out, God hears me. He is my strength. He is my shield. Not my understanding of a situation. Not my best guess as to what the future holds. When uncertainty darkens my horizon, God alone brings security.  

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He helps me. Together we sift through my one hundred questions. For all the imaginary scenarios flashing across my mind, he reminds me to trust him no matter what might happen next.

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He pulls back the curtain to expose the generator of all questions: my need for control.

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Lovingly he offers to take that, too, in addition to all my questions.

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There, in that space, without all the noise of “what if, what if?” I can experience peace like a cleansing breath. There, where the illusion of control is broken, my heart can leap for joy.

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I am free to sing the praises of my Strength and my Shield.

Father God, I praise you for your kindness. You offer to free me of my worry, and because of the joy I experience when I simply trust you, I can face the unknown undaunted. Please help me to bring my questions and anxieties to you right away instead of letting them grow. You are my Strength and Shield. I praise you! In Jesus’ name, amen.