Be Still My Anxious Heart

Anxiety. Worry. Fear. It hits us all at one time or another. For some it is fleeting in a given circumstance, but others are hit harder and for longer. Anxiety, worry and fear can feel overwhelming, paralyzing. It is the number one reason, right now, that adults and teens seek help for personal struggles. It was one of Adam and Eve’s first reactions after the fall (Genesis 3:10).

Some of the main causes of anxiety, worry and fear are work, school, relationships, finances, health issues, politics, national and world events, natural disasters, trauma, desire for success or security, uncertainties and fear of man (valuing man’s opinion more than God’s). We worry over small things as well as big things. I’ve seen different statistics, but somewhere between 80-90% of things we worry about NEVER happen.

The Bible has much to say about our anxious hearts. God does not leave us alone in our anxiety, worry and fear (Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 4:5b; 2 Peter 1:3). In Jesus, we have the hope and help we need.

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

Have you ever prayed for peace? I have, but as I studied these verses several years ago, my thinking began to shift. I realized that there are things that precede the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds. To review the context, Philippians 4 began with a conflict between two women. Paul’s first steps for reconciliation were rejoicing and letting our reasonableness be evident because God is at hand (present with us). In verses 6-7, he gives us the next steps which address our anxious hearts.

First, do not be anxious. The Greek merimnaō means “to be troubled with cares, worry; to seek to promote one’s interests.” The root word in Old English meant to strangle. Although we don’t know what Euodia and Syntyche were disagreeing over, in the solution Paul addresses worry. If we think of some of our own disagreements, we can probably see worry woven through it. Worry that our opinions aren’t being heard or valued. Worried that a need (real or otherwise) isn’t being met. Worried what others will think of us. The list goes on. Looking at the Greek meaning we see that worry is often, if not always, about promoting or looking out for our own interests and not trusting our faithful Father.

The Greek also conveys the idea of an unnecessary or unfounded worry. Remember the percentage of worries that never come to fruition? But even more important, if we stop and think about what we are worried about and then meditate on God’s character, I think we will find that the worry fades away. God is omniscient, which means He knows all about the situation. He knows it fully where we know only our own perspective. He has all wisdom, so He knows best how to handle the situation. He is omnipotent, so there is nothing that can prevent Him from taking care of the situation. He loves us and always has our best in mind. He is sovereign. Your situation real or imagined did not take Him by surprise, and in fact, He is working all things for His glory and Your good (Romans 8:28-29). You get the idea.

We have likely all heard of various tests showing the effects worry can have on our physical health. Because worry does not trust God, it also affects us spiritually. Worry affects every part of us. Paul says the antidote is prayer.

Paul says not to worry about anything, but in everything present your requests to God. There is nothing that is left outside of prayer. Take everything to God and do it with thanksgiving. We can be thankful as we think of God’s character and that He is all-sufficient to handle anything. The more I take my worries to God in the context of His character, my worries usually shrink in light of the grandeur of God. In reality, there is nothing. Nothing. That is beyond God’s character and ability to control and provide for.

As a youth leader, I prayed regularly for our Youth Group kids. If you have ever been around a teenager, you know there are many things to worry about (both things they worry about and we as adults worry about for them). I remind myself that God is sovereign. He is in control of the situation in the kid’s life even if it seems out of control to me. He loves that kid more than I do. He is good and is working what is best in their life for their sanctification and His glory. He is faithful. He isn’t going to forsake His child. Praying in this way helps me to look at what I’m worried about in a different way. The situation may still be a concern, but I can pray with hope and thanksgiving for who God is, what He has done, and what He is capable of doing.

Paul follows with, “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds.” He doesn’t just say that God’s peace will come to us when we are wallowing in our sinful worry. Peace comes as we surrender our worry to Him with thanksgiving. God’s peace isn’t just a feeling. Remember the conflict we began with. As we follow Paul’s instructions, we can have peace with others or in our circumstance because our whole perspective has changed.

This peace from God guards our hearts and minds. It helps to keep us from sinning in our situation. It keeps us from being strangled by the situation. It keeps us focused on Christ.

Reflection

1. What are you worried about? How much of it is your imagination adding to the situation things that aren’t really there?

2. Write down different attributes of God and how they apply to your specific worry. Then take it all to God with thanksgiving.

3. It is also good to write out Scripture that relates to your worry. Post them all over the place where you will see them every day.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If an anxious heart is part of your daily life, I recommend the devotionals A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Edward T. Welch and Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges and the books Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick and How to Help Your Anxious Teenby Jessica Thompson.