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Have you ever wondered how much time you spend in a day worrying? If our brains had a content reader showing us how much time we spend thinking about different categories, worry would probably be pretty high up there. At least I know for myself that worry, or anxiety, is something I battle on a daily basis. Our worry often involves the future, doesn’t it? I personally would enjoy the assurance that at least the next 10 years of my life are secure in every which way. I enjoy feeling like things are in my control and I want to know what tomorrow holds. But Jesus tells us,
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)
I am struck by the clear instruction in this verse. It doesn’t say, “Try not to worry” or “Don’t worry about some things, but others it’s okay.” Just, “Do not worry.” It’s a command. And because it’s a command, that means when we do worry, we are in sin because we are choosing to not believe that God will take care of us. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus uses the example of birds:
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
In my mind that always seemed unfair because birds are not even capable of worrying, so it’s easy for them since they have no choice but not to worry. But that is the point. Jesus says to be like them: worry is not even an option. Only simple trust.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves in a dark valley and we are tempted to be consumed by anxiety, to doubt God’s goodness for our lives and believe the lie that we deserve something other than the situation He has placed us in? God’s sufficient Word gives us the answer in Philippians 4:4-8:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
Let’s break this passage down and see how it instructs us to get rid of anxiety.
1. We are exhorted: “Rejoice!” And not just sometimes: “Rejoice in the Lord always!” It is certainly not my natural inclination to rejoice when hard times hit. My natural reaction is to complain and stew in self-pity. But as Elisabeth Elliot always reminded her listeners, “Self-pity is satanic!” Instead of giving Satan an opportunity to work because of our attitude, we rejoice in the goodness of our Lord!
2. Then we are commanded to “Not be anxious about anything.”
Nothing??
Not anything?
What about —?
God can’t be serious when He says do not be anxious about anything. Surely there are exceptions. Everyone would agree that the situation I am in is worth being anxious about.
That is what I often think. But there it is right in front of us. And if we weren’t certain about the absoluteness of it, the verse goes on to say, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” How freeing that thought is! We do not have to bear these burdens any longer. We do not have to be bogged down by worry and anxiety, we can cast them all at the feet of God’s throne. No matter is too small that God will not care, nor too great that it is out of His control. Every single worry is held in the palm of God’s sovereign hand, and He will care for it because of His love for us.
3. Notice that we are given specific instructions on how to present our requests. We are not to demand things of God as if we can insert a prayer into some sort of divine vending machine and out comes the solution of our desire. “By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.” We are to present our requests to God with the recognition that He has already lavished us with blessings beyond fathom. He has not only given us breath in our lungs and food in our stomachs, more importantly, God has given us Himself. We can commune with God. We can go directly to the throne of our Savior and pour our hearts out to Him knowing that He cares for us. There is so much to be thankful for!
4. Next, we are given a promise. This is my favorite part: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What a soothing balm those words have been to my soul time after time. God doesn’t promise to change our circumstances. He doesn’t promise to give us the answer we want. Instead, He promises something better: the peace of God will guard my heart and mind. It doesn’t make sense to the world. It is beyond understanding. Yet in the midst of external turmoil my heart can rest in my Savior. Because of this we can have the confidence to face any situation in our life because our joy does not have to rely on what is going on around us. Our joy relies solely on who God is, and He will never change.
5. Not only are we commanded to put off our anxiety, but we are also commanded to replace it with something better. We are to fill our minds with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” What if nothing in our circumstance possesses these qualities? Then fix your eyes on the One Who is. Think on Jesus Christ who was God yet humbled Himself to take on the likeness of sinful flesh in order to grant us the gift of everlasting life. Our Savior is True, He is Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, and Admirable. Our Risen Christ is Excellent and Praiseworthy. Let our minds and hearts dwell on His dazzling beauty.
Because of the God we serve and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, no matter what circumstances we are in, we do not have to be enslaved to anxiety, worry, or self-pity. Instead, our hearts can be filled with unexplainable peace. Dear sister, say “no” to being consumed by the anxieties of this world. Lay them at the feet of Jesus as you thank Him for what He has done, then watch the storm of your heart be calmed by the peace of God.
