Learning What Nothing Is

Have you every heard someone rattle off the Bible verse that says "Be anxious for nothing"? I have and if I'm feeling particularly anxious at that moment there is nothing quite as annoying as some know-it-all telling me how to feel. But I suppose God is a know-it-all, and Him I do my best to listen to, so how exactly should we be anxious for nothing when it is pretty easy to be anxious about everything?

I have learned over the years that if there is an admonition not to do something, I can pretty much expect in the next sentence I can read what I should do instead. How to replace the first activity with something better. The next part of that sentences says "but by prayer with thanksgiving make your requests be made known to God." Prayer ok. That I can do. Thanksgiving? Thankful for the storm on the horizon? The double tornadoes? 

No, the thanksgiving is because of the knowledge that God controls storms because He has all power. God is aware the storm is heading right straight for me because He is omniscient, all-knowing. Suddenly I see the double tornado in my life and I can instantly turn my focus on the attributes of the One who knew it was headed my way before I did.  Instantly the focus changes. Instantly my heart calms down. So yes, I can say thankful things and I can pray He tells me how to get through this. So once again He is showing us the great exchange: trade my anxious thoughts for thoughts about His attributes. Thanking Him for all that He is, making the requests, and basically calming down so I can see a way through this... and yes maybe that means to head for the southeast corner of the basement and wait, for this too shall pass.