A REFLECTION ON PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
“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” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Anxiety manifests in many ways. It can be in sleepless nights, or the other extreme: a desire to just stay in bed and pull up the covers. At other times, sufferers may feel shaky inside or physically unstable, constantly tired, or experience chest pain, as if they’re going to have a heart attack. Others may feel restless, unable to concentrate or get work done, or unable to follow conversations because of the distractions of the issues in the mind. Studies have shown that anxiety can literally shorten one’s lifespan if not dealt with.
In the best of times, life is filled with ordinary issues that can bring on stress; however, in today’s world we see so many events, both natural and manmade, changing our lives in ways we could not have imagined just a decade ago. How are we to live out our faith in Christ our Savior in these difficult, tragic, or even apocalyptic times?
We are instructed in the Word of God to act on our faith in Him and to not allow the troubles of life to override our faith in Him. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (v.6).
As we go forward into the unknown, our uneasy, anxious, fearful responses can be kept in perspective by looking to the Author of our faith, Jesus. By looking back on the faithfulness of God in all times and how He has provided all we need for life and godliness, we replace anxiety with faith. We are reminded that our God is a good, gracious, loving Father, and that we His children can count on Him to be there with us, helping us and providing for us in all aspects of our lives. Whatever we need we can find in Him. This is in part why we find so many names for God in the Bible; they are descriptions of who He is and what He has power to provide for us His children.
This peace during difficult times is something unique to Christians. People without this faith in God can’t understand how we can face the issues of life with such calm. Meanwhile, we Believers can’t understand how or why someone would choose not to place their faith in God, especially with the many visible evidences of evil and the effects of sin all around us.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you.” Though we are limited in our knowledge of how things will work out, we know we can face the uncertain future when we put it in the hands of God, who is and was and always will be.
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