Don’t Be Anxious, Pray
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ PHILIPPIANS 4:6 (NIV)
About a year ago, my sister Ruth and I visited our other sister, Barbara, who lives in Goodyear, Arizona, just east of Phoenix. Sky Harbor airport is huge, and the walk from our gate to the car rental was very long. Ruth needed a wheelchair, so while an attendant pushed her, I followed along pulling both of our suitcases. By the time we got to our hotel, my left knee (the one I haven’t had replaced) was hurting.
On the morning we were to return home, I woke up with my knee hurting. I knew the walk from the car rental to the Southwest terminal was going to be long, so I asked God to tell the car rental people to drive us to the terminal so I wouldn’t have to walk so far. (They don’t normally do that, but God was listening.) We returned the car and told the attendant that we needed a wheelchair for Ruth. We waited for at least 15 minutes, and then he finally returned and said they had no wheelchairs, but he would have another attendant drive us to the terminal!
I remember thinking, “O, ye of little faith” because I had doubted that God would answer my prayer, and I was dreading the long walk. On the way, I told Ruth about my prayer, and her response was “Praise the Lord!” The driver also seemed impressed at the answered prayer, because he knew that his car rental agency doesn’t usually drive people to the terminal. I don’t know where that gentleman was in his faith, but I hope he remembers that God answers prayer, even little ones like mine. Besides the tip about prayer, we also gave him a very nice monetary tip!
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity you give us to ask for anything in Jesus’ name. Help us not to be anxious but to remember that we can trust you with all of our problems and worries. Amen.
EVELYN HANEY, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH