Slideshow image

 Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray.  And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Luke 9:28-29  

Being a parent is an exercise in constantly worrying about your kids. 

I have a new baby boy.  Anders Nelson Cannon just turned two weeks old on Monday.  He’s all things that babies are: cute, cuddly, adorable, loud and … fragile.  I have to be worried about him, just as I have to be worried about my two older kids.  When you have kids, commonplace things in your house become a danger: outlets, marbles, stairs, sharp corners, ovens, bathtubs, scissors.  All these things have the ability to induce fear and anxiety.  

Fear is a necessary and powerful emotion. Fear keeps us alive.  Without fear our ancestors would have all walked straight into the lion’s den (literally and figuratively)!  Fear is necessary, but if you let it, it will control you.  It will dictate your actions, hold you back from your potential, erode your relationships and mire you in endless cycles of worry.   

Faith in God is the opposite of fear.  It’s about letting go and trusting that God will provide.   

There is so much in the world that is completely out of our control: poverty, pandemics, natural disasters, politics, climate change and war.  Even in our daily lives so much of what happens to us is completely beyond our grasp.  Job loss, mental health, family disputes, financial stress … it could go on and on.  If you listed all the stressors in your life, you might take a look at that list and wonder how every minute of every day isn’t filled with anxiety and worry.  

That’s why God calls us to prayer. Prayer itself, is an act of trust in God. Prayer says, “I don’t have this under control God, but I trust you do.”   

In our Gospel this week, Jesus had just spoken to his disciples about the ultimate fear: death.  He tells them how he is going to the cross.  You can imagine their fear, so the next thing he does is takes Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray.      

In that prayer, God meets them on the mountaintop.  Jesus is transfigured.  And fear turns into faith in God.   

So, the next time you find yourself worried and afraid, find a quiet place, fold your hands, and pray.  God will meet you there as well.