No One Likes Needles

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you 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 4:6-7

The rubber tourniquet around your arm...the smell of the alcohol pad...and then the needle.  Most people I know experience a small, if not significant, rise in anxiety when they are about to get blood drawn.  My 3 year old son is no different.  The moment he realized what was about to happen...you've never seen a kid move faster into his father's arms.  Like lightning he was in my lap with his arms around my neck.  It was a picture to me of how we should be with God, our Father.  Ready, in an instant, to seek refuge when we experience fear and anxiety. 

 The author Paul makes a distinction between prayer and supplication in the verses above.  Why?  I think by calling us to prayer first, he is telling us to immediately seek God's presence as soon as we experience anxiety.  We should instinctively and rapidly come into the massively strong, powerful, and loving arms of our Father.  There we will find shelter and comfort.  Now my arms aren't strong and powerful, and you'd be very hard pressed to call them "massive", but my son knew that is where he wanted to be.  To him they represent strength, comfort, and love.  Is your instinct to seek God's comforting presence?

It was not long after seeking my arms that my son started to give his supplication.  His request was communicated in one word (and a few tears), "No!".  I got the message.  Once we have put ourselves in His presence, recognizing who He is, then God desires for us to bring our requests before Him.  He wants us to pour our heart out. Why?  Because He cares. (I Peter 5:7)  Furthermore, God wants us to experience peace. I wanted that same thing for my son.  I did not prevent the blood draw from happening, but I did walk beside him through it.  I put my face near his, whispering words of peace and reassurance into his ear, emboldening him to take courage.  I held his hand with a firm grip that spoke in its own way that I wasn't going anywhere.  Together we did it.  His circumstances never changed, but his attitude and ability to meet the circumstances were altered dramatically by his father's presence.

How much more so for us when we follow Paul's advice in these verses.  There may not be a removal of the circumstances causing us anxiety, but there will be our Father's special presence guarding us.  I love that picture of a strong, fully-armored guard  walking with us through the circumstance, protecting our hearts and minds, even as our body moves ahead.  So, dear friends, take courage and do not be anxious.  Rather be quick, like lightning, to jump into your Father's presence.