God Cares About You(r Mental Health)Sample

When we’re in a dark place, and in need of God’s help, why exactly does scripture instruct us to thank Him—even before anything has changed?

Today’s passage is Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”

The words prayer and petition refer to asking God for something—expressing our needs and wants to Him. But then we come to the word “thanksgiving.” What exactly are we supposed to be thanking Him for?

The reason we thank God, before anything has changed about our situation, is because no matter what we’re feeling anxious about—whether a relationship, a job, school, money, spiritual status or anything else—God cares enough about us to want to hear about it.

We also thank God because whatever solution God has planned is going to be the best one. Sometimes that solution might involve changing our situation; other times it may involve using our situation to change us. However things play out, when we go to God in prayer, we are entrusting our life to the one who is infinitely more capable of solving our problems than we are.