Agh! Ants…I can’t stand them, and apparently this spring they decided to move into our house. Now, I’m not referring to the little itty-bitty ants that one barely notices. These guys are full-grown carpenter ants. They look like black spiders roaming the floor, certainly, not my deal. We’ve tried a combination of everything, including the spotless kitchen, ant bait, and the good ‘ole shoe. But nothing seems to deter these little guys. So today, after much discussion my husband called the exterminator.

I’m not going to lie. It may seem silly, but these little buggers cause me a whole world of stress. I love critters, just not itty-bitty little ones that invade houses. Between planning for our first child, chasing ants through the kitchen, and writing, I just can’t fathom one more worry. That’s where today’s verse comes into play.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

I truly don’t have huge fears at the moment, but somewhere amid my life’s “little” struggles I still begin to fight my battles alone; instead, I’m told here to call on the Lord’s name. Sitting quietly before our Father isn’t easy in the bustle of a modern world. We tend to let our minds wander with distraction, but that doesn’t make resting at His feet any less valuable or important.

In our desperation, we should always turn to God, whether the mountains seem “tiny” or insurmountable. But why lay our fears bare? Doesn’t God already know them?

See, our Father never promises solutions to life’s struggles, not even when we turn to Him in prayer (John 16:33). Things may not go my way with these ants without some further action on my husband’s behalf, but that’s not why God calls me to prayer in the first place.

In Philippians 4:7, just the next verse over, it says:

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God calls me to prayer so that I can have peace through whatever I face. Now, I don’t know about you, but little ants creeping across my floor don’t naturally cause me to have peace. My instinct is to run, maybe even to gag.

But see, when we pray, something super-natural should happen inside of us. We’re taking our fears and our worries, and we’re telling God that we trust Him with the outcome, regardless of the future. Not only that, but we’re finding peace through our relationship with Him. The peace of God…will guard your hearts…in Christ Jesus.

You may face bigger obstacles than some creepy-crawlies in the kitchen. Believe me, I know this one is truly a “minute” problem. That being said, every fear is important to our Savior. He sympathizes with our weaknesses, remember (Hebrews 4:15-16)?

So as the waters rise and as fears assail your heart, be still before the Father. He isn’t indifferent to your desperation. He wants you to come before Him, and in that moment, He offers you peace in turn for your trust. That doesn’t guarantee the outcome. It simply means you have come to a point where you recognize God’s goodness and sovereignty. Rest within His arms.