Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)
Prayer and Hope
I recently heard a story from a friend who attended university far from her family and home. Further, she was required to park her car quite a long distance from her classes. The walk was long, along a deserted, lonely, and unfamiliar road.
Normally, we might expect her to be anxious.
But she had an amazing piece of technology that we take for granted. She had a cell phone. As she journeyed through unsafe territory, she talked to her mother. Not necessarily about the things going ‘bump’ in the night… but simply talking, listening, laughing.
And anxiety turned into peace. Anxiety turned into comfort. Anxiety turned into hope.
We have super cell phone connection to God.
Prayer does not bring hope merely because we anticipate He might answer our prayers in the way we expect. Prayer also brings hope because when we pray we are talking to our Heavenly Father. His presence in our praying relieves anxiety. His presence in our praying reminds us of the Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth. His presence in our praying offers hope.
Take the hope God grants us.