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"I'll pray about it" is almost a trite and overworked phrase, but it is very scriptural. When Hannah hurt because of barrenness, she prayed about it. When Daniel heard a life-threatening decree, he prayed about it. King Hezekiah took an insolent letter to the temple, where he prayed about it. When Peter and John were threatened and told to give up teaching and preaching, they returned to their fellow Christians and prayed about it.
It's good for us to follow this simple, humble example. Recently in one of our churches, the minister invited the sick and burdened to come forward. "Let's pray about our problems corporately," he suggested. Some were greatly strengthened by it. It's very relieving to have friends to whom I can say, "Will you help me pray about . . . ?"
But praying about everything takes a childlike trust in God, doing it because He says so and not dictating a certain outcome. When a teenaged girl was asked if she practised praying, she said, "Why should I? I'm in no trouble." She forgot that praying about everything, even her present happy condition, would prepare her for troubles yet to come (Hebrews 4:16). Our passage indicates that making all of our requests known to God will not necessarily deliver our wishes, but it does promise God's peace. Peace--what a coveted state!
This one is by Lillian Giesbrecht of Kelowna, B.C.
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