Melting Mountains

I started my junior year of college a few weeks ago. Since being in college I have realized how much of a worrier I am. I get anxious every time I make a new transition, and at this time in my life, that’s a lot. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed I actually contemplate running away to Europe (I’m not joking- plane tickets to Paris cost about $2000. So that’s why I’m still here). I wish I could say prayer is the first thing I turn to when I feel waves of panic coming over me. Unfortunately, 95% of the time it isn’t.  But after the hyperventilating, crying, and thoughts of dropping out of school have subsided, I always find that prayer is the only thing able to calm my worried spirit.
 
Whether your stress is at the level of booking a one-way trip to Europe or you’re in a much less dramatic situation, prayer is the one way to instantly connect your heart to the LORD and refocus on Him.
 
It’s so easy to take prayer for granted. Often we forget what a miracle it is that we have the opportunity to come before a holy God and speak with Him. We are able to praise Him, thank Him, and bring our requests before Him. In the moments when I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 4:6.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
 
Often what causes our anxieties is trying solve our problems in our own strength. Once something unplanned happens, we struggle to maintain the control we think we have and piece our lives back together. This leaves us exhausted, worried, and stressed. It ends up creating a divide between us and our LORD as we essentially say, “I don’t need You- I’ve got this.”
 
Maybe you’ve heard the comparison between a really difficult situation and a mountain. Mountains are definitely not easy to climb, especially when you are ill-equipped.  But what brings me comfort during the mountain moments in my life is the fact that my “mountains” are nothing to the One who created them. I love the verse in Psalm 97:5 that says, “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.” This is such a beautiful image to me! There’s a song by Shane and Shane called “Lord of Hosts” and one part says, “Oh God who makes the mountains melt, come wrestle us and win.” I love this lyric because it reminds me of two things: 1) how powerful our God is and 2) how badly I need His strength to overpower my weak and stubborn self.
 
So my encouragement for you today is to let go of the control you want to have over your life. Bring your anxieties, doubts, and praises before the One who has the power to melt the mountains. 

​By: Kayelei Wright