He Prayed for Me

(I meant to have this written and posted Thursday night but alas....that didn't happen.  May it still encourage you today as we remember Jesus' death on the cross.)

Last week was filled with anxiety for me. 

My dad was out of the country and was feeling poorly.  You know what is hard? 

Figuring out and treating someone half way across the world. 

You know what's harder? 

When you are a nurse and you know enough information to cause your imagination to run wild.  It was in those "wild" moments that all I could do was beg God to just let my dad get home safely.  (He did get home safely!  Praise the Lord!)

There was also a plane crash in France. 

You know what causes loads of anxiety for someone already anxious about flying? 

Hearing about a plane crash. 

Finally, I sent my passport and visa application in for my Chinese Visa (no, it isn't a credit card.  It is the sticker that goes in my passport saying I'm allowed to enter China.)  Putting that stuff in the mail seemed like a big step - or perhaps the final step - in this huge journey.  Once my passport comes back, everything will be in place for me to travel in a couple of weeks. 

However, sending the stuff in was not without some anxiety as well.  I had to send a cashier's check and realized after the trip to the bank that I had made the check out wrong.  Instead of making the check out to Chinese Consulate in CHICAGO, I had made the check out to Chinese Consulate in CHINA.

UGH!!! 

It was the last straw and suddenly the world started caving in.  How could I have made such a ridiculous mistake?  I think my dad captured my feelings the best when he said,

It is one thing to deal with the stuff beyond our control, but when we shoot ourselves in the foot it is harder to deal with emotionally and spiritually.  God can and does deal with those things too.

God worked everything out and the passport and application are in process as we speak.

As I sat down in church Sunday, I was weary from the anxiety of the week.  But then I heard this:

"I pray for them......Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me so that they may be one as we are one.  ....I have given them your word and world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of this world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth: your word is truth.  As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. "  (John 17)

The last thing Jesus did before he was arrested and died was pray for ME!!  He prayed that as I go out into the world, I would be protected from the evil one's attempts to overwhelm me with anxiety, to cause me to take my eyes off of my Savior and ultimately to fail in bringing God the glory.

Because that is what happens when we are walking on the water and focus on the storm rather than the Lord.  We start to sink into the sea of doubt and anxiety.  The waves of worry threaten to drown us.

Jesus had experienced humanity.  He had been tempted.  He had been weary.  And yet, as he prepared to die, He prayed for me....and you! 

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.