Anxiety in a man's heart

     weighs him down,

but a good word

     makes him glad.

            Proverbs 12. 25

(Anxiety pours over

     like a tsunami wave,

particularly in these

           uncertain times,

facing a menacing horde

   that we cannot see

   nor know the end of.

But the unease can also

 stir up a desire

      to do something about it.

There are a lot of things

            we cannot control,

but some things we can.

I can't do everything about it,

         but I can do something.

A good word,

a kind reaching out to someone,

   may help lift their burden

   in astonishing ways.

But what we do for others

   also does something to us.

A good friend who was struggling

was advised that when

    she saw that

   deep dark wave approaching,

to immediately reach out

          and do something,

not for "me-time"

           or benefiting herself,

       but for somebody else.

That good word

      someone desperately needs

may be not just from ourselves,

         but for ourselves too.

God changes the situation,

         word by word,

         kindness upon kindness,

    brings the light of Jesus there,

          and changes us through it.)

O LORD,

Help us to be mindful of others,

the struggles,

the burdens of anxiety

   visible,

   unseen,

          and very real.

Show us how to minister

     in tangible ways

that are not just meaningful

and outrageously timely,

     but fruitful for Your glory.

Help us to respond

            to Your nudges

and be faithful

      right where we are today.