Read:

Isaiah 7:4 "Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah.’"

Psalm 46:10 "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'"

Think:

So many things can steal our peace and cause worry to leap into our souls. Maybe it's the phone call in the middle of the night as the parent of a wayward teen. Or, it could be the loss of a long-term friendship. Maybe what steals your peace is the sickness of an elderly parent. The potential sources for fret and anxiety are endless!

When we start to worry, the first thing we'd like to say we do is "go to Jesus in prayer," but more likely, we grab our contact list. Our lips want a piece of the action; we yearn to discuss our worries and troubles. But generally, our lips have a bad habit of wandering into the wilderness of complaining and griping.

In Isaiah, we discover the prophet speaking to King Ahaz and reassuring him that all will be fine. Even though he had two kings, "smoldering stubs," at his doorstep, they wouldn't win the victory. Isaiah goes even further, telling him to "calm down and not be afraid." This passage tells us to center our thoughts and minds on Jesus, to experience the calm he offers. The Scripture further reminds us to "not lose heart," don't be a coward! When worries, fears, and anxiety overwhelm us, let's remember what Isaiah said to King Ahaz: calm down and be strong. God's got this!

Apply:

Today take your worries and cares to Jesus before you grab your phone. Practice peace and calm; allow Jesus to speak to you in silence. Sometimes you need the stillness to saturate your heart so you can hear from him.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, I cast my burdens on you. I long for your presence and peace to sink into my soul. Calm my wounded and worried heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.