Overcoming Anxiety

Over 10 years ago, I heard Isabel and Ivan Allum speak from Philippians 4:4-9. They put forward this passage as a recipe to overcome anxiety. It is timeless wisdom, one that I have put into practice many times over the years when anxiety has overwhelmed me. In this season of history, fear and anxiety seems to be in the very air we breathe, but it doesn't need not be the state we live in. So take a moment and grab your Bible. Ask Jesus to open the eyes of your heart so you can receive and understand the truth of this passage. Read it through once and then come back to read the rest of this little study.

Let’s begin with a snippet from verse 6: “...do not be anxious about anything....”*

First, let’s look at the Greek root word for “Anxious” in Philippians 4:6. This word means “to be drawn in different directions.” Anxiety arises when our thoughts become divided. If we stray from mediating on God’s Greatness, His Goodness, His Unfailing Love, His Limitless Provision, His Faithfulness, His Compassion, His Kindness, etc..., we will begin to entertain thoughts that bring fear, doubt and unbelief. These thoughts undermine truth. As a result, our emotions somersault into anxiety. To be free from anxiety, we must return to a full trust in Jesus. In fact in Philippians 4:4, Paul instructs us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” and just to make sure we get it, he adds “again I will say, rejoice!” This rejoicing in the Lord, helps us to put our focus back on the One who is mighty to save. The One who is All-powerful and can fix and solve any problem. And most importantly that One who is worthy of all our worship, praise and delight. This takes our focus off our problems and puts it back on Him.

Next Paul says: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Philippians 4:5a

Now what does that mean? The word reasonable can also be translated as “a gentle spirit,” “patient” or “moderation.” The Greek word means “appropriate.” Could it mean: Don’t flip out, don’t make a scene? Demonstrate to the world an appropriate response to whatever situation we find ourselves in, manifesting a gentle and patient spirit, because we know and believe the rest of the verse.... “The Lord is near;” Philippians 4:5b NIV

“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians‬ ‭4:5-6‬

‭Let’s pause a moment to consider this little power-packed phrase. “The Lord is near." The Lord is the One who is The Master. The One who has All Authority. The One in Charge. He is near. How close? If I understand the Greek root word for near, He is so close, you are in His arms and He is giving you a loving squeeze. So from that perspective of being in the loving arms of the One who is in control, we can confidently do what the rest of that sentence says. Why be anxious when the Lord is so near? Instead, let’s pray about everything and anything that concerns us, giving Him all our fears and anxieties, asking Him to help us and give us solutions for each situation that troubles us. Listen for His answers - prayer is a two way conversation!

There is another important clause in the middle of that verse, which I would say isn’t what comes naturally to us when anxiety grips us. It is normal to pour out our troubles and requests for help, but Paul tells us this should be done “...with thanksgiving.” This “giving of thanks” is a very powerful tool to lift us out of hopelessness and despair which often overwhelm us when we are anxious. Take a pause. Start giving thanks for the seemingly common blessings that surround you, which really are quite wondrous, and even miraculous! If we can call to remembrance Jesus’ faithfulness to us in the past seasons of our lives, and in the lives of others, and give thanks for those things, our hearts will be filled with faith and hope. We remember that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We mediate on His Goodness that never ceases or changes. If He helped us in the past, He will surely help us now and in the days to come. Thank Him for His solutions that are already on the way.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Remember the root word of anxiety means “to be drawn in different directions.”? Guess what the root word of peace means? Can you believe it? It means “to join”. All our thoughts that go in every direction producing anxiety, are now called to align, to be joined together in a confident trust in Jesus. God’s Peace is the result of knowing He is The Master, and He is more than able to take care of every situation. This peace guards our hearts and minds from being ravaged by worry and fear. It calls them to be quiet, to be at rest. I hear the words of Jesus saying to the waves “Peace! Be still” Mark 4:39, and to the disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John‬ ‭14:27‬

Just to be sure our minds are redirected away from anxious thoughts, Paul gives us one more directive of what we should being thinking about.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”Philippians 4:8.

When I see this list of what we should meditate on, I am directed to the only One who is True, Honourable, Just, Pure, Lovely, Commendable, Excellent, Worthy of Praise... this is Jesus Himself. “....fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith....” Romans 12:2.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9.

So what are you thinking about? What is running through your mind? Does is build you up or tear you down? Does it produce faith or fear? Does it see good or only bad? Does it keep you awake at night or put you to sleep? Does it encourage you or discourage you? Are anxious thoughts running in every direction? Take time to work through this passage and keep on doing it, putting it into practice until you experience God’s perfect peace. He is the Prince of Peace and the One who causes the storms to be still. He wants you to fully trust Him and experience the peace that comes when you really believe that He loves you and He cares for you! And no matter what is happening all around you, you are safe in His loving arms.

“...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”  ‭1 John‬ ‭4:18‬

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” _‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬ _‭

Recipe for Overcoming Anxiety

1. Remember who the Lord is and Rejoice in Him
2. Receive His hug
3. Don’t flip out
4. Give your anxiety to Jesus in prayer
5. Request God’s solution to manifest
6. Give thanks for the solution
7. Listen for His answer
8. Receive God’s peace in your Heart and Mind
9. Meditate on Jesus, not your problem
10. Practice trading your anxiety for His peace

*All quotes from the ESV (English Standard Version) unless otherwise noted.
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