When the Cares of Your Heart Are Many

So much is happening in the world on a global, national, and personal scale. Sometimes it feels like we can’t go a day without something attempting to fill us with worry, fear, heaviness, or sorrow. But as care upon care begins to weigh on our hearts, Scripture reminds us time and time again to pray and seek the One who can truly comfort and uplift our souls. Another translation of Psalm 94:19 shares this sentiment in such a lovely way: “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (nkjv). From the heavy weight of many cares to the deep joy of His consolations, His presence ushers in peace.

Have you ever experienced the joy and peace that come from sitting in the Lord’s presence and turning all your cares over to Him? One day as I was praying, I felt God invite me to share with Him all the worries in my heart. I thought I had surrendered them to Him already. But the Holy Spirit revealed I was still holding on to them and encouraged me to pray through and hand over each worry. Once I gave those fears, worries, and burdens to Him, I experienced the promised peace of God relieving my heart.

Philippians 4:6–7 instructs us what to do when the cares of our hearts are many:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In this passage, we see that the relief, comfort, and answers all lie within Him. We pray, laying our requests before Him, humbly asking Him to help us. The Greek word translated here as supplication refers to a “heart-felt petition, arising out of deep personal need.” What a perfect word to express our state of being when our cares are many. Philippians 4:6–7 also says to let our requests be made known with thanksgiving. Why might that be? In the middle of feeling anxious, my natural inclination is to focus more on what I’m worried about than on giving thanks to God.

Yet when we approach God with thankfulness, a heart shift begins. It enables us to pause our anxious thoughts and, instead, fill our minds with thoughts of God and His goodness. Thanking God in the middle of feeling worried makes room for peace in your soul. I’ve been working on thanking God in the middle of feeling worried. I push aside the anxiety by sharing with Him the things I’m grateful for, and it significantly changes my perspective and reminds me of His faithfulness. Thankfulness proves to be a balm for the anxious heart.

Today, as you pray, identify what you are anxious about. Hand over every worry. Release your grip, and empty your heart of all the cares you’re carrying. With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. As this becomes a continual practice, the treasure of consolations in God multiplies.

Prayer

My Lord, my Consoler,

When the cares of my heart are many, You are the One who comforts my soul.

You are my lasting comfort. Nothing else cheers my soul like You do. Nothing else encourages my heart to keep going like You do.

Nothing else diminishes my anxieties like You do. May Your Spirit remind me to pray and release any worry or care to You. Help me to not be anxious about anything but lay my requests before You with an offering of thanksgiving. Because yes, Lord, I am so thankful for You and the abundance of Your love, grace, and blessings.

Your consolations delight my soul and take away the troubles of my heart. Amen.