Don't run away...run to the throne

     August already.
     Which means the start of school approaches at a gallop.  And that TV commercial for school supplies that has the parent singing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year"--I beg to differ.  In fact, right this moment I can feel the pressure starting to rise as I consider: homework (and nagging about getting homework done--ugh)...suddenly, shockingly busy schedules...meetings...more meetings...no more staying up late or sleeping in...getting children off to college...all those projects I planned to do over the summer but never came close to finishing (or even beginning). 
     Not to mention completing--or in the case of one of my children, starting--all that summer reading.  Then throw in an challenging assortment of concerns that tend to weigh us down with worry--from aging parents to ebola to world conflict to children growing up and moving away to heartbreaking struggles our loved ones are enduring...
     Oh my, it's enough to make you want to throw away all those back-to-school forms, jettison your cell phone and voluminous to-do list, grab a book, and speed off to some isolated island or remote mountain cave to live in happy denial of what's just around the corner.  Ready or not--back-to-school and back-to-busyness--here I don't come. I'm outta here.
     Nah, I don't think that will work.  And we all know that's not God's plan for His children. Do you remember the scene from the movie, "The Sound of Music" between the novice, Maria, and the Mother Superior?  Maria has suddenly abandoned her job as a governess and fled to the security of the convent in order to escape her feelings for the now-engaged Captain von Trapp.  The Mother Superior wisely but firmly tells Maria that she must go back.
     "These walls were not built to shut out problems," the Mother Superior counsels Maria.  "You have to face them.  You have to live the life you were born to live."
      Neither problems nor worries magically disappear by running away from them.  Just ask anyone struggling with an addiction--they can't run far enough or fast enough to escape their demons.  No, it's no use trying to sweep those anxious feelings under the rug...or drown them in diversions or distractions.  And we certainly don't want to wallow in those worries--though that's our, or at least my, tendency.  Right now I can feel the weight of worries pressing on my heart...and that's definitely not God's plan...and it's a dead-end, joy-stealing, peace-destroying path.
     So, Lord, once again, here I am--Your often faithless, fretting child.  We're told in Your Word: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." (Heb.4:16)
     What joy that we can come to Your throne of grace anytime, anywhere.
     It's a sovereign throne--a place of kingly power, glory, might and splendor.
     But it's also a throne of grace--a place of forgiveness, mercy, help, love, and peace.
     Thank You, Father, that when we feel anxious or uncertain or confused or overwhelmed, You welcome us to Your throne of grace...where we can find mercy and help for our every need.
     No, we don't run away from our worries or problems...we run to the awesome, powerful throne of grace.  And when we run to that glorious throne, we will always, always, always find mercy, comfort, and help for our needs.
      Just today, when I rushed to the throne with my list of worries, my Heavenly Father responded with His Word: "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." (Phil.4:6-7)
     Yes, I needed the reminder that it's a choice.  A choice to pray rather than fret.  A choice to worship rather than worry.  A choice to thank rather than complain.
     A choice to reject all that anxiousness and instead run to the throne of our Father, our Abba, and entrust it all to Him.  With thanksgiving.  'Cause He's totally, totally got it.  All of it.  And He's got us.
     So back-to-school and back-to-busyness?  Ready or not, here you come...but we're good...cause we're sticking close to the throne.  The throne of amazing, supernatural, always-sufficent-for-every-need grace.
     To God be the glory.