Thankful in the Middle of Uncertainty - Your Nightly Prayer - November 12th
Thankful in the Middle of Uncertainty
Your Nightly Prayer
by Clarence Haynes Jr.
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6
SOMETHING TO PONDER
If there’s one thing you can count on in life, it’s this: life is uncertain. We don’t get the luxury of knowing what tomorrow holds. A sudden layoff, an unexpected diagnosis, a broken relationship, or simply a foggy sense of not knowing what comes next. These things remind us that our lives are fragile and unpredictable.
If I’m honest with you, those moments stir up anxiety in me. I have learned that uncertainty and anxiety often walk hand in hand. Yet uncertainty tests and proves your trust in God.
When you consider your life, you don’t really know if you are trusting God until you reach a moment where you have no other choice. When the path ahead is clear, you need little faith. But when everything is hazy and unsettled, that’s where your faith becomes real.
I know “just trust God” can sound like a cliché, especially when you’re standing in the middle of the storm. So, the real question is, how do you build up your trust muscle so you can walk confidently even when life feels upside down?
One of the best ways I’ve discovered is through thanksgiving.
Growing up, our parents taught us to say “thank you” whenever someone showed us kindness. Gratitude acknowledges that someone else did something for you, and it reminds you that they might do it again. That’s the beauty of Thanksgiving. It not only honors what has already been done, but it stirs hope for what is still to come.
When life is uncertain, thanksgiving becomes your anchor in two ways.
1. You thank God for what he’s already done.
Look back at God’s track record in your life. Every prayer answered, every door opened, every time he carried you when you couldn’t carry yourself, those are the memories that build your confidence in his faithfulness.
2. You thank God for what he’s going to do.
This is where faith steps in. When you thank him in advance, you’re acknowledging that the same God who provided before is more than able to provide again. Gratitude shifts your heart from fear of “what if” to faith in “He will.”
This is exactly what Philippians 4:6 is teaching us. God doesn’t want us stuck in fear, anxiety, or worry. Instead, he invites us to bring our requests to him with thanksgiving, because thanksgiving transforms prayer from desperate begging into confident trust.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come before God with a heavy heart and high anxiety. In those moments, as I’ve prayed with thanksgiving, I’ve literally felt the weight lift. It doesn’t always mean the situation changed immediately. But something in me changed. That’s the miracle of being thankful. It lifts the burden from your shoulders because it places the outcome back into God’s hands. When you trust him with the outcome, he floods your heart with his peace.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
In the middle of my uncertainty, I don’t lead with fear; I lead with thanksgiving. I thank you for all you have done and for all you are going to do. I ask you to quiet my heart because sometimes I want you to do it yesterday, and you may have a different timetable. However, I know I can trust you because you have been faithful before and you will remain faithful. In my circumstanc,e I thank you, and I rest knowing you are working this out. Give me a thankful heart so that your peace can guard my heart and mind.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. It’s easy to be thankful after the trial, but thankfulness in the trial is what builds your faith.
2. When you don’t know what God is doing now, thankfulness reminds you of what he has done before.
3. Peace and anxiety cannot exist in your heart at the same time. Thankfulness can help you overcome anxiety and bring you peace.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Simon Lehmann
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
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