A Prayer for When You Are Anxious
By Wendy van Eyck
I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. - Song of Solomon 7:10
When I first read about the following prayer in a book by Brennan Manning called, “The Furious Longing of God,” I thought it sounded too simple but I gave it a try anyway.
I can’t remember the exact words Manning wrote but I remember reading something along the lines of, 'if you pray this prayer every day for one month it will change you.'
This prayer has changed me.
This 5-word prayer has become my "go-to" prayer anytime I feel anxious.
Driving to the oncologist to get scan results: Abba, I belong to you.
Waking in the middle of the night with concerns about work or finances: Abba, I belong to you.
Worrying over a relationship that is struggling to work: Abba, I belong to you.
Praying for a friend: Abba, [insert name of friend] belongs to you.
As I pray it I find myself remembering who God is: Big, mighty, good, merciful, loving, Abba.
As I pray it I find myself surrendering to who God is: In control, infinite, beyond comprehension, seeking my good.
As I pray it I find myself believing who I am: Human, living in forgiveness, valuable, beloved, desired by God.
Ponder: Are you willing to try praying this prayer every day for a month and see if it helps your anxiety?
Prayer: I exhale and inhale when I pray it as Brennan Manning suggested, but I’ve found my own rhythm:
Inhale: Abba
Exhale: I belong
Inhale: to
Exhale: you
I find the combination of breathing and words calm me. This makes sense to me because none of us are only physical or only spiritual. We are both, so why not use both to find peace when I'm anxious?
Editor’s Note: Portions of this devotional were taken from Wendy van Eyck’s devotional, How to Pray When You are Anxious. You can read that piece in full here.
Related Resource: Sheila Walsh: The Cost of Pretending You’re Okay - Buried Emotions, Depression, Mental Health & the Courage to Heal
In this powerful conversation, bestselling author and beloved speaker Sheila Walsh opens up about the hidden cost of pretending you’re okay. She and Zach explore why what we refuse to feel can eventually overwhelm us, why vulnerability is not weakness, and how healing often begins when we finally tell the truth about what’s happening inside. If you’ve ever felt pressure to hold it all together while quietly falling apart, this conversation reminds you that you don’t have to pretend, and you don’t have to heal alone. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Built Different Podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Saturday, 09 January 2021.
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