Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Jeremy Camp’s emotionally charged single, “Anxious Heart,” drew my mind back to my college days. As a freshman, I enrolled in a seminar to learn how to overcome “test anxiety.” My test anxiety was causing me to freeze up once a test was placed in front of me. Although I studied and knew the material, my anxiety crippled my focus, and as a result, it hurt my test performance.
Our struggles with anxiety are as ancient as Adam hiding with Eve in a grove after disobeying God. Adam experienced humankind’s first encounter with anxiety as he listened to God wandering through the garden calling his name. Today, according to the World Health Organization, about 264 million individuals worldwide have an anxiety disorder.
Scripture implies that even as Christians, we’re going to be confronted with feelings of anxiety. Fortunately, Scripture also provides a remedy for dealing with it.
The inspiring words from the chorus of “Anxious Heart” assures us, “And when my thoughts have run way too far, You’re the calm for my anxious heart.” Camp’s words echo the sentiments of the prophet Isaiah who wrote, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT) The Apostle Paul parallels Isaiah’s reflections in Philippians 4:6-8. Together, these verses provide God’s prescription to cure and overcome anxiety.
1. Learn to trust God. When my children were in school, they went on a field trip, and the adult chaperones wore T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Large and In Charge.” Though not theologically exact, that’s a concise description of God. Like those chaperones, He’s keeping watch over you. He won’t allow any circumstance to come into your life that has not first passed through His hands. Did you tell God that you trust Him today?
2. Pray and praise God. Prayer needs to be our first resort, not our last. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul encourages us to pray for everything. Tell God when you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety. Then, praise Him for the blessings He’s already sent your way. As a reward for your prayer and praise, God vows His abundant peace will stand guard over your heart and mind.
3. You can pick what you ponder. Like the words of Camp’s song, sometimes our “thoughts run way too far”, and we need to reel them in. In Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us to focus our minds on spiritually positive thoughts to overcome our “what if” thoughts that lead to those anxious feelings. Twice, in this one verse, Paul encourages us to recondition our minds by refocusing our thought life.
At some point in time, we’re all going to contend with an anxious heart. Although we may battle with anxiety, we don’t have to be handcuffed to it. God provides the needed tools to be victorious in this struggle. We can trust Him, call on His help, thank Him for His faithfulness, and refocus our thought life on Jesus. Then, you too, can experience calm for your anxious heart.
Dig Deeper
1. Write a list of anxieties you struggle with and ask for deliverance from them as part of your daily prayer time.
2. Read the following passages and record the promise found in each one: Proverbs 3:5-7, 1 Peter 5:7, John 14:27, and Psalm 23:4.
