A Prayer for When You Are Anxious - Your Daily Prayer - January 9
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: When Life Unravels: Biblical Strategies for Hard Seasons
Few challenges stretch a parent’s faith and emotional reserves more than life’s unexpected curveball seasons—the plot twists that leave you wondering, “God, what are you doing?” How do you remain anchored in truth when the bottom drops out?
This week on Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes back her very first guest and trusted friend, Dr. Erin Barry, to help parents not only survive, but find hope and stability in life’s most turbulent moments. Dr. Barry is a clinical Christian counselor, author, homeschool expert, and co-founder of inseparableLives.com. Her biblically grounded wisdom comes from over 30 years of walking families through the storms of life.
In this transparent and practical episode, Catherine gets real about her own season of loss, uncertainty, and a series of shocking life upheavals—from parenting a prodigal, to family moves, to sudden job loss. Using these stories as a backdrop, Dr. Barry unpacks essential biblical strategies for clinging to faith and finding stability when life feels out of control. If this episode helps you be a more thoughtful parent, be sure to follow Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
