Anxious For Nothing

 ^“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6

I really love this verse. I always have. I guess you can say that my mind easily resorts to anxiety, in just about every situation. This verse speaks to me in countless ways, and I hope I can share just a few of the incomparable truths that it holds.

BEING ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING – That doesn’t really leave room for misunderstanding. We’re not told to refrain from anxiety, except when the situation truly demands it. We’re not told to be calm and trusting, except when we feel overwhelmed or “justified” that our circumstances are out of the ordinary and demand our immediate response to be anxious. No, we are commanded to be anxious for absolutely nothing. Nothing means nothing.

BY PRAYER AND PETITION – It makes me sad when I hear people on television make comments about God that are so contrary to His character. I often hear statements like “God is busy ruling the entire universe, he doesn’t have time to be concerned with that.” Thank God we don’t serve a God who doesnt have time for us. Thank God we don’t serve a God who can only focus on one thing at a time. Thank God that He is all powerful and fully involved in the affairs of His children. God calls us to be in prayer and petition. He desires that we bring our requests before Him. Perhaps because this shows our trust and dependence on His complete and total power over our lives.

WITH THANKSGIVING – That’s a tough one for me. I tend to be thankful when things are going very well. I feel well, I’m in a good mood, life is going my way. And I’m thankful. But how often are we thankful in the midst of that which is causing us to be anxious? Caught in painful circumstances, the very last thing we want to do is be thankful. But God tells us to do just that. Why? Perhaps because a heart that knows Him is a heart that trusts that He will continue to provide that which is for my good and for His glory. And that frees me to trust Him with the current situation, and allows me to focus my mind on other things, like the many blessings in my life, rather than festering over that which is troubling my soul.

THE PEACE OF GOD  – It is a profound truth. The peace of God is so unlike the peace that this world offers. The peace that this world offers is circumstantial. It is shifting. It often times depends on emotions and a mental committment to stay in this place of peace. But the peace of God – it depends not on circumstances, it is constant, and has nothing to do with our emotions. It is purchased with the blood of Christ, and is one of the rich inheritances of the saints of God.

WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING  – I love when God reminds me that He transcends my understanding. This isn’t the only verse that alludes to this. We are also told that He will do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. We are told that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways. Here we are told that His peace transcends all of our understanding. Perhaps we see someone who’s circumstances look completely intolerable. And we wonder, how would I ever cope if I were in that same situation? The answer is the peace that transcends our understanding. There is no situation we can endure where this promise does not apply.

WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND – Don’t know about you, but my mind and heart could use a little guarding. What a blessing to know that God’s peace GUARDS my heart and GUARDS my mind. Guard us from what? From anxiety. Just as a security guard stands by protecting people from possible harm, so the peace of God stands guarding our hearts and minds from anxiety.

THROUGH CHRIST JESUS – This is what it comes down to. Tthe entire verse rests on the truth that it is all through a saving relationship with Christ.

I wish I could remember this verse better when I am right in the midst of anxiety. The sad reality is that I forget it, I choose not to think about it, and decide instead to dwell in my anxiety and live there instead.  Not only is it disobedient, but I forfeit the incredible comfort that can only come through faith in Christ and in His providence for my daily life.

Anyone else ever feel anxious? What other verses do you turn to as a reminder for God’s powerful control over our lives?