Steady Steps in Uncertain Places - Your Nightly Prayer - May 21st

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Your Nightly Prayer

Steady Steps in Uncertain Places
Your Nightly Prayer
by Peyton Garland

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life…” Psalm 121:3-8 (ESV)

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I’ve noticed in my 30+ years of life that the moment I think I have a grip on things—when I believe I’m making progress and cultivating consistent joy—reality gives me a not-so-kind shove into uneven, gloomy territory. I’m then left wondering why I thought I could blissfully coast through this fallen world in the first place. Unfortunately, I’ve learned to grow anxious when life feels healthy and smooth, as I wait for that other unkind shoe to drop. It’s a sad protection mechanism that knows my heart, mind, and body will eventually return to square one in hopes of regaining peace and rest. We live in a world of ups and downs, so it only makes sense that many of us are constantly bracing ourselves for the next debilitating plunge.

Can you relate? Do you find it impossible to feel confident in any season, as the hard ones are, well, hard, and the good ones leave you holding your breath and wondering when they will end? The Bible tells us that uncertainty is part of a fallen world. James 4:13-15 (ESV) says, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” If we are waiting for predictable, steady circumstances before we take steady steps, we will never go anywhere. This is why action is a byproduct of true faith. When we choose to believe in something or Someone, even when we can’t guarantee how that belief will unfold in our lives, we respond with hope-filled movement. Our steps, no matter how wobbly, are proof that we believe better things are ahead.

On the other hand, a stagnant life is reflective of a lack of faith, an inability to believe in a meaningful future. But truthfully, whether you believe in God or not, stagnancy, often created by fear and uncertainty, will plague you. A person can’t avoid the unpredictability of this world, so each of us is left to either place faith in a God whose character has proven good and steady, no matter the circumstances, or succumb to the anxieties of this world and spend our days frozen, devoid of purpose and peace. Taking steady steps in uncertain places requires faith, no matter how shaky, but by surrendering to a faith that moves and breathes, you open your heart to be used by a limitless God.

YOUR NIGHLY PRAYER

Lord,
Thank you for your goodness and the hope you provide in an unpredictable world. Grant us the boldness to deny fear access to our hearts as we trust in your plan. May we take steps forward, not because we are confident in ourselves or the world, but because we are sure of the God who uses all circumstances and places to strengthen, fortify, and heal His children. In your holy name, God,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

Take a few moments to list the opportunities that you haven’t acted upon due to fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. In prayer, ask God to grant your heart victory over the lies that keep you from moving forward.
Prayerfully consider 1-2 Christians you can confide in to share your fears, but hold you accountable to move forward.
Journal through this season as you make your faith proactive, recognizing how far you have come in this journey.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ChrisBoswell

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.

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