Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
I often feel more discouraged rather than encouraged when I hear things like, “Don’t worry” or “Don’t be anxious.” I often wish it were as easy as flipping that switch. But I wonder if there’s more to what Paul’s saying here than the direction to not worry or be anxious.
It can be discouraging to hear “Don’t worry about it.” It’s not as simple as flipping a switch. But there’s more to what Paul is saying in this passage. Paul instructs the Philippians and us to pray. It’s easy to let our worries build in our minds, but prayer should be our first defense against the things that make us anxious.
Paul then says to make our requests to God with thanksgiving. Anxiety and gratitude may not have an obvious connection, but anxiety fades in the presence of thanksgiving. When our prayers start with gratitude and we think of all we have to be grateful for, our perspective shifts. God gets bigger, and our anxiety begins to fade.
Take time now to think of three things for which you are thankful. Share your gratitude with God.
God, thank you. Thank you for these wonderful blessings you’ve given me. Thank you for your gift of peace. Forgive me, Father, for the worries and anxieties I’ve hidden from you when you long to hear from me. Thank you for your presence in my life. And Father, forgive me for the times I’ve let my worries and anxieties be the center of my focus rather than lifting my eyes to you, the giver of every good thing.
