“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” Philippians 4:6.

This is easier said than done. In my Christian walk in the past eight years, I have learnt to cast my anxieties on Christ. Yet, I find myself numerous times worried about the very things I just prayed about. This irritates me, because it makes me question my faith in God and I despise such thoughts and feelings. I like questioning things and fixing things that are out of place or are unjust. I get so unhappy with a lot of injustices that are displayed by people who have the power to make a difference. Sometimes, I get scared by my own thoughts, and wonder if God is happy with how I am reflecting and thinking about these things. So what should I do? While reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, Susanna on page 431, came up with a genius idea.

Like me, she’s a worrier and she was trying to help her friend Angel deal with her worries. She pulled out a shoe box with a slot on the top and called it her “God Box”. She explained, “when problems prey on my mind, I write them down, fold them up and put them through the slot (on her box). Once they’re inside this box, they’re God’s problem and not mine…I know it sounds ridiculous, but it works. I’m a fixer, Angel. A worrier. I’ve never been able to just let things go. I want to play God, if you will. Every time I do, things go awry. But it reminds me to put faith in God and not in myself. The bonus come when I see my prayers answered.

After a few questions from Angel about her method, Susanna explained that she puts dates on the problems because “I like to know how long it takes God to answer”.

“What if God says no?” asks Angel.

“Then he’s got something else in mind. Something better than what you would think up for yourself.”

Knowing I was exactly like Susanna, I emptied out a memory box I had since I was thirteen years old, and wrote down many things I had been worried about, and they mounted up to twenty-six. I have about ten more to add to the list today. Lately, my sleep has become easier, and I haven’t been worried about the things I placed in the box, because I know God has them in his hands. Now I just need to practice patience. After God answers one, I will open the box and take the prayer out and give thanks to the Lord for his faithfulness, unfailing love and grace.