Pray Without Ceasing

A Poem and Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A Poem

At day or night, pray without ceasing,

In grief and joy, do cry.

To God your burdens sweet releasing,

Uplift your songs on high.

Your stress, anxiety, and pain,

To Christ, surrender not in vain.

He lifts up heavy weights off thee,

And sets your spirit free.

Reflection

Praying without ceasing doesn’t mean we spend every hour muttering spiritual drivel to the heavens. It means a constant reliance on our heavenly Father. It means acknowledging that He is always with us. It means that every burden and pain we feel gets placed upon His shoulders.

My youngest son, Ransom, will often pick up random things around the room, walk up to me, and say, "Here you go." Sometimes it’s a treat I will enjoy; other times, it’s just trash. But he trusts that whatever he places in my hands, I will gladly receive.

In the same way, our heavenly Father is always with us, ready to take our offerings of praise or carry our heaviest burdens. Let us give Him both, trusting Him to be the loving Father He is—graciously receiving them and doing what is best for us.