“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, what is just, whatever is our, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 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 4:8-9
I don’t know if it's simply because I'm getting older, or the internet is getting louder, but it seems that anxiety is more prevalent than ever. We are living in an anxious age. I am not immune to this reality myself. I have struggled with anxiety most of my life, but more recently an unending round since 2019 that I am still working hard to shake off.
What feels like hundreds of hours in counseling, self-care, journaling, prayer, and Bible study have gone into the attempt at bringing some healing from this unrelenting mental state. Anyone who has wrestled with mental illness knows that this reality is not a sprint but a marathon, and, sometimes, it's a marathon with no finish line.
Often, those who have never experienced a diagnosed anxiety disorder have a hard time understanding what those with anxiety are really dealing with. The average response of “Just stop being anxious,” or “Get over it,” is not helpful.
I often wish it was just that easy, but, in fact, it's something that I must work hard to deal with every single day.
The fight for my thoughts occurs daily. Some days are easier than other days, but the most challenging work I have done is establishing the habit of fighting the thoughts and reminding myself of what is true.
Truth grounds us in reality.
This is exactly the instruction that Paul is giving the Philippian church. Just as we need the reminder, Paul is reminding the church of who they are in Christ and the joy that is found in this truth.
In Paul’s final exhortation to the church, he focuses on a timeless truth: joy is found in Christ. But what often robs us of joy? Anxiety.
Paul is seeking to give them a remedy for the anxiety that they are facing.
Before we can zoom in on our two verses, we must first understand what Paul is communicating. He is reminding the people that God is close at hand, meaning He is a constant, abiding presence. He does not leave or abandon them no matter the circumstance.
Paul calls the church to not be anxious; this anxiety is an anxiety that is not compatible with trusting God, and it is not compatible with joy and peace. Let’s pause here. The hardest reality to swallow when it came to my struggle with anxiety was that I was not trusting in God as I should. I was trusting in myself; I was trusting in my ability to control, and I was losing sight of God’s true character.
I said I trusted Him, but my actions reflected a different belief.
Let's look at five ways from this passage that Paul gives a remedy for anxiety:
1. Acknowledge the anxiety. When anxiety strikes, we have to acknowledge what’s happening. When a thought strikes or an anxious feeling rises to the surface, I must recognize what's happening. Often, in my case, anxiety centers around a thought about my health. It pops up at the worst moments and can lead straight to panic. When this happens, I acknowledge the thought and that is where the next step comes into play.
2. Pray. It’s too easy, right? No, in fact, it’s far harder than we think. You see, when we are truly praying, when we are humble and relinquishing control, we are doing a hard thing against our flesh. We are acknowledging that we are not in control while exercising trust in God. Prayer is not used to change who God is; it is used to remind us of who He is, adjusting the posture of our hearts. Our prayer practice produces the peace of God. He pours it out and counteracts our anxiety because we are being reminded of who God is at His core: a holy God who is sovereignly in control of all things.
3. Rest in His peace and character. The lesson Paul is seeking to teach the Philippian church is that if they would rely fully on an accurate picture of the Almighty God, and how that guides every part of their lives, they would find true rest and peace from anxiety. We can rest in true peace when we know God and understand that our control is simply an illusion. We don’t control anything. He controls everything.
4. Challenge the thoughts. Once we acknowledge the anxiety and understand the true character of God, we can begin to challenge the thoughts that are coming to our minds. Paul told the church at Philippi to think on very specific things, good things, righteous things, etc. When our thoughts travel out of that, we take hold of them and bring them back by reminding our anxious thoughts of the truth.
5. Rest in His peace and reflect on what is true. I rest in what is true, and I am washed with peace. Who God is—and what He has done—is what is true. When I am anxious about something, I remind myself of that truth again and again. I will do it as many times as it takes. As long as anxiety knocks at my door, I will continue to remind it of what is true.
Let's pray:
Father, thank you for what is true. Thank you that you are in control of all things. Even when I am struggling with my anxious thoughts, you never abandon me. You are steadfast and enable me to do the work of reminding myself of what is true. You are truth, Lord. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Marsell Gorska Gautier
Michelle Rabon is helping women be disciples who make disciples. Michelle has her MDiv in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently serving as Women’s Ministry Director in her local church. She is also the author of Holy Mess. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, being close to the ocean, and drinking a lot of coffee. You can connect with Michelle at www.michellerabon.com
Originally published Thursday, 18 July 2024.
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