The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6.

Today I confess I feel shaken. Anxiety is creeping in and pulling forcefully. Even in prayer, God was quiet letting me pour out my deep worries. He knows they are there. I needed to see they are there and give them to Him.

The ups and downs I read in our chapter, 2 Chronicles 33, mirror the ups and downs in this life we live today. Our peace is shattered by events out of our control whether through wars, cancers, feeling lost by those who should love us, feeling God is distant. I have been struggling with Jesus’ words “It is finished.” For us still living in this world it feels so very unfinished.

In our chapter, a king, Manasseh, ruled Judah for 55 years and was so far removed from worshiping the true God that he sacrificed his own children in the fire. He worshiped everything but God. He ended up taken prisoner by Assyria. And then, and only then, he humbled himself and prayed to God. He and his people suffered greatly in their ignorance of God who loved them. God’s love was needed then and God’s love is sorely needed today. Despite all the evil that Manasseh did, God forgave him. God loved him. In his deep need, Manasseh found God who loves. He was near.

My heart hurts and is anxious because of all the evil being done today. How to explain hearts that are so far removed from love that hate is all they know? We can become lost in hate and anxiety. And then I remember the Lord is my Shepherd. He will shepherd me through these anxious times and bring me safely to Him. I felt the same anxiety when our Mom was in her last months. I had no control. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. v. 13.

One day we will all of us be brought back to God’s Kingdom. We will be brought Home. That’s what gives me hope. He helps me keep my eyes on Him giving me a perspective that is eternal and thank You, Lord, I have no control over that but You do! You help me give everything to You. My God is Love. Your God is Love. He is near to you. Let go and trust Him. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7. When I give Him my anxiety, He holds me in His peace. He reminds me He is near and it is good. He cares for me. Isn’t that what all of us need?