...Here's to Muddling Through!"

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6&7 NIV

Recently I have been
thinking about these verses, so often we think of results and pray fervently for them. Lord heal, Lord save, Lord spare me. Lord take care of this or of that. And if He does, we we think He is watching out for us and if He doesn't we think He doesn't care for us. But answering our prayers, the way we think they should be answered is not the promise. The promise is that no matter what is happening, no matter how much we are in "the depth of despair" to borrow a quote from Anne Shirley, He will guard our hearts, since the Evil One is always looking for an opening. In other words, when life, or people, or our own stupidity wounds us, leaves us open for attack He will be there to make sure that we are protected. Nothing, no event, no circumstance should cause us to doubt His love and His protection.
Now I am not saying, we should be dancing in the streets when bad things happen. Some circumstance call for "muddling through". Getting through one day at a time, only think about one day at a time, is sometimes all we can do.
I am in such a time. There will be no quick solutions to the difficult waters I am navigating right now. We are dealing with ailing parents, that need help, a lot of help that takes a lot of time. My husband and I still have small children, careers and commitments, so shifting our lives, which are full, so there is room for this new responsibility is taking its toll.
And as usually in stressful times, are we getting to church every Sunday, doing a daily devotional, praying frevently? No- my prayers as of late, are a few words- " Lord, help" or filled with petty frustrations on my part and complaints- but He will listen and then am amazing thing happens, a feeling of ....the universal word would be peace- but it is more a feeling of " it will be alright, it will be okay, you will survive this cause I am right here with you." washes over me. He guards my heart. It is a promise He will never break.