Mentioning the Unmentionable (Friday Devotional)

“Do not worry 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.”

- Philippians 4:6-7

Over the course of its 912 episodes, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood covered a wealth of topics about which the eponymous host thought children wanted or needed to hear. With imaginative characters and a bevy of guest stars, viewers learned about typical educational things like counting, art, and holidays, as well as things Mr. Rogers thought might be on kids’ minds that wouldn’t be covered in school, like going to the doctor or getting a haircut.

But numerous times over the program’s 31 seasons, Mr. Rogers also plunged into more controversial topics, things he felt certain children had questions, concerns, and even fears about but that adults often refused to discuss with them. From race to divorce to nuclear war, there was no topic too uncomfortable for Mr. Rogers to talk through with his viewers. “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable,” he said. “When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”

This admirable attitude goes double when it comes to prayer—anything that worries, concerns, or pains you is worth bringing before the Lord. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and the Bible’s answer to it is simple: instead of trying to fix your world alone, come to your heavenly Father with the burdens weighing you down. While there’s no guarantee that your problems will vanish in a puff of smoke, what is promised is a peace that comes only from God—not a protection from problems so much as freedom from the toll they take on your soul.

Sometimes we tend to think God has a Goldilocks attitude toward our prayers, that they cannot be too big or too small, but have to be just the right size to be worth bringing before Him. We worry needlessly that asking for patience on a bad day isn’t worthy of the throne of grace, that thanking him for a good day isn’t worth His attention—but God wants to hear our small prayers. At the other extreme, we fret that some problems are too complicated or overwhelming or shrouded in shame to bring before the Holy One—but God wants to hear our big prayers too.

The truth is that Mr. Rogers was right—if it’s mentionable, it’s manageable; if you can talk about what you’re feeling then it begins to feel less powerful. And when you bring your concerns, however big or small, before God, you’ll find that He offers more than management. He offers peace.