Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
Life can feel overwhelming sometimes. The weight of expectations, the uncertainty of tomorrow, and the constant noise of worry echoing in our minds can easily get us caught in the trap of anxiety. What sometimes begins as a simple concern can quickly turn into a trap – one that steals our joy, clouds our thinking, and pulls our hearts away from trust in God. But God never intended for us to live imprisoned by fear. When we bring everything to God with a thankful heart, His peace, a peace beyond understanding, stands guard over our hearts and minds. This article teaches on how God’s Word calls us to step out of fear, lay our burdens before Him, and walk in the peace that only He can give.
Can you prevent yourself from falling into the depression or anxiety trap? I want us to look at Philippians 4:6-7. This is a powerful scripture because it contains significant principles. It says: “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”. I often reference these verses while on the go, as our daily routines can be quite overwhelming. With all the responsibilities we have, especially the ministry and missions work we love in our churches, it’s easy to feel swamped. These verses provide the motivation I need to keep going amidst the busyness.
It says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything’. We often struggle with our daily responsibilities. With so much on our plates, we can end up with two lists: a “to-do list” and a “want-to-do list.” Balancing these lists is part of life’s responsibilities. You might find yourself temporarily stepping away from your to-do list while still working on the things you want to do. Life can bring extreme demands, from physical challenges to family or financial issues, all of which contribute to stress and anxiety. We often try to manage everything on our own, attempting to keep all the balls in the air and the plates spinning. However, I want to remind you that the word of God provides a clear command: “Do not be anxious about anything.” When we reflect on this, we realise it includes everything. We are encouraged to cast all our burdens onto the Lord.
The scripture states, “Do not be anxious about anything,” but then it emphasises, “But in everything.” This implies that we should not only hand over some of our worries to the Lord but all of them. It’s not just about giving Him our anxious thoughts while holding on to others; we are called to surrender everything to Him. In everything, we should approach God in prayer and supplication, accompanied by thanksgiving, and let our requests be known to Him. I believe you have requests today – concerns about family and children, finances, your future, and questions regarding your marriage, among other things. The Bible encourages us to bring all of these matters, not just a few, to God with a thankful heart.
Consider the importance of thanksgiving and gratitude in counteracting anxiety. Gratefulness is one of our most effective tools against anxiety. When we start to feel anxious, we often focus on the negatives: “This is bad,” “That’s not right,” “How is this going to work?” Anxiety thrives on negativity because it fixates on what is lacking or uncertain. This mindset creates anxiety because we are overwhelmed by unanswered questions. When we have clarity or answers, we feel more secure and less anxious. Conversely, the uncertainty and lack of information fuel our feelings of anxiety. To counteract this negativity, we can embrace gratitude. We can tell ourselves, “I may not know when, how, who, or why, but I know God.” So, I choose to offer everything – whether natural, spiritual, physical, or emotional – to God with gratitude.
" Gratefulness is one of our most effective tools against anxiety. "
We’re talking about everything: your marriage, your business, your children. You need to present all of these to the Lord with thanksgiving. You can say, “God, I give you all of them today. I entrust them to You because I know You are more than capable, and I can find peace knowing it’s in Your hands.” A common tendency with anxiety is to take our worries back after we have handed them to the Lord. It’s not just about giving thanks in everything; it’s about being thankful at all times. It’s not just a matter of rejoicing in the morning and then worrying the rest of the day, or having a good attitude throughout the day only to fall apart in the evening with our family. It’s about maintaining an attitude of gratitude consistently and at all times. We are called to make our requests known to the Lord. So, whatever requests you have today, remember that the Lord is saying, “Hey, give it to Me. I will take care of this.”
What I love about this scripture is that it states that after we take certain steps, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It’s important to note that this is the peace of God, not just a fleeting feeling of well-being, but a genuine gift from the Lord. This peace is said to surpass all understanding because, when we face challenges, it often doesn’t make sense how everything will work out. But when we hand our concerns over to God and say, “God, I trust this to You,” peace begins to flow in. Suddenly, we experience peace regarding our health, finances, children, marriage, or singleness. Did you know that peace can be seen? It is not only felt; it can be exemplified in our actions. Once the peace of God comes upon us, we can tell ourselves, “I’m not going to be anxious,” and this shifts the way we communicate and our attitude towards various situations. When talking with a friend, rather than expressing negativity, we can confidently say, “It’s going to be okay.” They saw the challenges we faced yesterday, but today everything is better. Why is that? Because the peace of God can surpass all understanding. This means that even when we don’t know what will happen next and lack complete understanding, the peace of God can envelop us regardless of our circumstances.
The peace of God can truly guard my heart and mind. So, whenever anxious thoughts arise for you today, you can confront them by saying, “No, I choose peace.” That’s how you can break free from the trap of anxiety. Remember, don’t be anxious about anything; it is well with you, and the peace of God is with you, guarding your heart and mind. You have already faced challenges and overcome them, like slaying the lion and the bear daily. Just continue to speak peace when anxious thoughts emerge. The enemy always tries to provoke doubt with questions like “What if?” “Who?” and “How?” These questions often carry a negative tone and focus on uncertain future events. For instance, you might wonder how a meeting will go or whether a family reunion will turn out well. You may think, “I don’t know what my boss or supervisor will say in this meeting.” The enemy aims to instil anxiety by making you unsure of what the future holds. But today, I want to remind you that God knows the beginning from the end. He has only good plans for you.
