Be Anxious for Nothing
Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
With his latest book, Anxious for Nothing – Finding Calm in a Chaotic World, best-selling author Max Lucado (“America’s Pastor”) was ahead of the curve. I’m confident that he had no idea that its 2019 release would be so timely, yet in these worrisome days, it has certainly proved to be that.
I looked it up on Amazon recently and read through some of the pages. Here’s an excerpt:
Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs…Life in a minor key with major concerns…Anxiety and fear are cousins but not twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What if?
Classic Lucado, eh? He then continues:
One would think Christians would be exempt from worry. But we are not… Not only do we feel anxious, but we feel guilty about our anxiety. The result is a downward spiral of worry, guilt, worry, guilt. It’s enough to cause a person to get anxious.
It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote, “Be anxious for nothing.”
Paul doesn’t seem to offer any leeway here. Be anxious for nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Is this what he meant? Not exactly.
He wrote the phrase in the present active tense, which implies an ongoing state. It’s the life of perpetual anxiety that Paul wanted to address…
The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.
The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.
– Max Lucado
Instead, Pray
Anxiety is an emotion. It’s a natural human response to perceived threats. Which means it’s not a sin.
That being the case, it’s more a matter of how to deal with anxiety than feeling guilty about anxiety. And Paul provides a very practical solution: “…let your requests be known to God.”
Anxiety is an emotion. It’s a natural human response to perceived threats. Which means it’s not a sin. So, it’s more a matter of how to deal with anxiety than feeling guilty about anxiety.
That is to say, “Allow your anxiety to trigger your prayer.” Talk to God about whatever it is that is making you anxious. Your health concerns. Your financial worries. Your kids. Your parents.
Confident in the fact that your Father is aware of your anxiety and eager to hear your requests, pour your heart out to Him. Share with Him how you are feeling…where you are struggling.
But then, having done that, breathe in His peace. Rest in His love. Be confident in His sovereignty.
God’s got this. And God’s got you!
Talk to God about whatever it is that is making you anxious. Then breathe in His peace. God’s got this.
Think About These Things
And when those negative “What if?” thoughts come (and they will), after you release them in prayer, replace them with some positive thoughts. The very next verse offers such counsel.
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.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Anxiety flourishes in the soil of negativity. So, monitor your exposure to fear-inducing sources. It’s one thing to stay updated on this very fluid COVID-19 situation. It’s another thing to overdose on CNN or social media which can easily bring you down.
Determine to expose yourself to God’s promises and reflect on His power more than dire predictions. After all, His Word is the only truly trustworthy information source.
And then consider how you might become contagious in a good way. Look for ways to engender hope among your family and friends rather than feeding their fear.
In so doing, not only will you be fueling their faith, you will be fueling your own.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for Paul’s timely words. To know that he penned them during a time when he was “quarantined” in prison helps me to see that he practiced what he preached. May I follow his lead in being anxious for nothing and may I mirror his influence with others.
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