Often when we face trials and feel fear, we think of the verse in Philippians, which says, “be anxious for nothing.” However, we equally often leave the verse there. If we don’t, we tend to remember that the rest of the verse tells us to make our requests known to the Lord and his peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard us. I’m curious how our neglect of the middle portion of the verse leads us to a poor understanding of how we can be “anxious for nothing.” Let me quote the passage for you here:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.--Philippians 4:4-7
Ooh, did you catch all that?
Let’s break it down.
In verse 4 we are first called to rejoice in the Lord, which is a repeated exhortation. We can find joy in every circumstance with the Lord. (insert more verses and passages for tying together)
Next we are told to let our “gentleness” be known to all. This Greek word Epieikes is translated in scripture as “gentle” most often. It also is used as “equitable”, “fair”, “suitable”. Scholars of scripture agree that this Greek word includes an element of selflessness, which may be why this word is used sparingly in scripture–just 5 times!. It is a specific form of gentleness that encourages us to be an example of gentleness an equity by being selfless for the sake of others.
Verse 5 also tells us “The Lord is at hand;” but what does that mean? This is our call to remember our kingdom perspective. How trivial do our circumstances and petty arguments look in light of the knowledge that Jesus will soon return? If we keep Jesus’ imminent return in our sight, our perspective will shift. It can be difficult not to be caught up in the day to day worries of finances, housekeeping, jobs, busy schedules, and other daily battles, but that’s why God takes care to remind us that, “The Lord is at hand”!
Let’s recap– we are to rejoice in the Lord always, with a reminder to “rejoice!” Be an example of gentleness and equity to the point of selflessness, and keep our perspective by remembering Jesus is returning soon. What does Paul tell us next? “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (V. 6)
The word “worry” is defined as “to strangle”.The word “anxious” is defined as “pulled different directions”. Worry and anxiousness are wrong thinking and wrong feeling spiritually. That sounds harsh, but consider all the examples of care and love God has shown throughout scripture. The Bible is covered in examples of God’s providence. Paul tells us to take our concerns and requests to God. We bring everything to God in prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING, too often we neglect thanksgiving.
I find it fascinating that in recent years, neuroscience discoveries have been made about how gratitude affects the brain. In a form of psychology called “positive psychology”, psychologists have discovered that gratitude and anxiety are incapable of coexisting in the brain. When we practice gratitude, we strengthen the body’s ability to create and release serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters that are responsible for our positive emotions. It’s not an accident that what God shares with us in Philippians to combat our situational anxiety is by prayer and supplication–with thanksgiving! God is providing for us in his word and by his spirit, but we often look outward to the world to “cure” our anxieties. We try to make ourselves feel better by exercising control over our situations through various means (redoing a budget to fix a financial problem, researching a medical issue to understand the best treatment, and more). These things are not bad for us to do, but if we neglect our relationship with God, we’re neglecting the best answer to our worries.
God is so practical. He’s given us plenty to be grateful for and a way to express it (prayer, song, sharing with others). When we let our requests be made known to him, when we come before him saying “Lord, thank you for who you are. Thank you for providing for me in every way, even if it’s not the way I thought it would be or should be. Help me trust your way. God, I am scared about what’s coming. I don’t know how to face this or make my decision, but you are near and I trust you to guide me, even though it’s hard. Please show me the way to go, make clear the path I should follow. Thank you for forgiving me…” When we pray in this way, with gratitude surrounding us, our anxieties need not exist. Verse 7 tells us that “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we follow this model laid before us–rejoicing in the Lord, being gentle, keeping perspective, praying with thankfulness–God’s peace will guard our hearts and our minds! What a gift.
Now, please forgive me if it feels I am making light of your anxieties. I know many of us have sat in the darkest places and have felt the anxiety attacks that stop our breath, send our hearts racing, the strangling feeling (the meaning behind “worry” is apt, yes?). I’m not saying this anxiety does not exist. We can praise God for the medical and psychological treatment for situational anxiety and anxiety disorders, the fact that there are avenues to help us in these struggles. We would never tell a person in need of corrective glasses to trust God will make things clear and to toss those frames. In the same way, I’m not telling you to neglect counseling and medical care. Instead I want to remind you that the Lord provides for us in every way. He is “Jehovah Jireh” translated “God the Provider”. God is our provider in every way.
Philippians 4:8-9 goes on to tell us what we should fill our hearts and minds with and that these things will keep God’s peace with us. My youth pastor always told us, “garbage in, garbage out.” That saying has held true in my life. When we fill ourselves with good, good overflows. When we invite in negativity, bad attitudes, grumbling, complaining–it’s what comes out.
I know my thoughts were long, but I would ask you to remember these two things:
Worry and anxiousness steal our joy–Start with rejoicing!
The cure for our situational anxiety lies in this–we rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.
I’m including a link to a playlist I’ve made of songs about gratitude and rejoicing. When you feel anxiety creeping in, try pulling up this playlist and listening.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
Gratitude Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPo_OsY2dzCfjM7_HC-suwftxkTIyibcx