"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7

We worry about so many things, most of them mainly, if not entirely, beyond our control. Our fearful imaginations create catastrophic visions of the future that will likely never come to pass but trouble us in the present. What an invitation from God we receive in these two verses!

Here, the Apostle Peter, inspired by God's Spirit, urges us to humble ourselves before God the Father (simultaneously acknowledging our limits while also confessing His limitless love for us), see our lives under His hand, and believe that His mighty hand hovers not to crush but rather to cover and comfort us. What a blessing to know that God in Christ is not only near us. He is for us.

As we enter a New Year seemingly promising innumerable threats to our peace in Christ, including a challenging election cycle, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, pressures to bend our knees to the gods of this age, and more, the temptation toward anxiety is powerful, even palpable. Thankfully, the provision of God's peace through prayer is even more so. Let's resolve to enjoy this gift, choosing peace through prayer over panic.