We have all seen the famous “Footprints in the Sand” poem; a man dreams he is walking on the beach with God when scenes from his life flash before his eyes. He sees two sets of footprints in the sand representing his walk with God, but he notices that during the hard times in his life there is only one set of footprints. When he asks God why He left him during the hard times God tells him, it was during those times that I carried you.

This is an inspirational poem and a wonderful example of how God works in our lives. It is a great reminder and paints a beautiful picture, and we see many instances in the Bible where Jesus makes references to turning to God during times of struggle.

This world is full of struggles, anxiety and worry seem to be a major problem in today’s high-paced world. Whether it is stress at work or in a relationship, peer pressure, or health issues, just to name a few, people have all sorts of things that bring them stress on a seemingly daily basis.

Where do you turn when you are down and feeling low? What do you do when you feel the world closing in upon you? How do you relieve your anxiety? Is it through distraction, like ballgames, television, alcohol, drugs, or something else?

Some distractions are not necessarily a bad thing once in awhile, and at times it is much needed, while some distractions are damaging to the body and the mind. But either way distractions are only a temporary solution. Actually, that’s not quite right, they are not a solution at all. There is a solution, and that solution is to turn all your worries and your concerns over to God through prayer and petition. Put your troubles in God’s hands.

Jesus talks about this many times throughout the New Testament, here are a couple of examples:

²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:27-30 ESV)

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34 ESV)

It’s easy to tell somebody not to worry, but what is the key to not worrying? I believe the answer to that question comes to us in Philippians 4:6,7. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible:

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

When you turn your life over to God, when you put all of your faith and all of your trust in Him, and you do it from the heart you will feel Him carrying you when you need Him the most. You will feel a peace that surpasses understanding. But this passage also comes with instruction, it continues in verses 8,9:

⁸ Finally, brothers, 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 anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

And this comes when you turn your heart towards God and the Holy Spirit begins to work within you. This doesn’t mean that everything will be easy. Jesus never promised us that, in fact he said the opposite. He said if you follow Him the world will hate you and persecute you.¹ But He will guard your heart and your mind, He will carry you through it. 

We can find comfort because we understand this world is temporary and we are not of this world² for God has put eternity into our hearts³ and we have a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.⁴ Knowing all of this helps to make the present troubles seem minute compared with the paradise that awaits us. This brings us a rest in our souls that cannot be taken away no matter what this world throws at us because we know that we are not alone.

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1. Paraphrase John 15:18-20 ↩︎
2. John 17:16 ↩︎
3. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ↩︎
4. 2 Corinthians 5:1 ↩︎