When we are anxious or worried…
You don’t need me to re-hash the news headlines for you. People in this world are struggling with being frustrated, fretful, and fearful. We are dealing with how to navigate a season of stress, concern, and anxiety.
This week as I was studying a passage in the Bible from Philippians, I was once again reminded of how encouraging Paul is as he reflects on the joy we have in Jesus. Interestingly, Paul was in prison, in many respects he was somewhat isolated. As we find ourselves dealing with having to adjust our lives in response to this coronavirus, Paul’s practical teaching in Philippians is a good place to look.
Here are four tactics from Philippians 4 as we deal with our own anxious worries and fretful thoughts:
1. When we are anxious or worried…Rejoice in the Lord (always).
Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Paul commanded the Philippians to rejoice. He repeated the command immediately, thereby emphasizing its importance. Their joy was to be in the Lord, and it was to be unchanging. It does NOT say rejoice always - the verse says rejoice IN THE LORD always!
Jesus told us in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Paul didn’t find his joy in his FREEDOM.
Paul didn’t find his joy in his CIRCUMSTANCES.
Paul didn’t find his joy in his AMUSEMENTS.
Paul didn’t find his joy in his FRIENDS.
Paul didn’t find his joy in his HEALTH.
In the 104 verses in Philippians we find the name of Christ or a pronoun referring to Christ over 60 times. Christ is the source of Paul’s joy.
2. When we are anxious or worried…Relate carefully with others.
Philippians 4:5, Let your reasonableness (or gentleness) be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
When I get worried, stressed, and anxious, I can get grumpy, short-tempered, and become “less gentle” than I ought to be.
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:11, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”
Paul is in that prison cell and he tells us to be gracious, gentle, good, why? Because the Lord is near.
Peter says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
3. When we are anxious or worried...Relieve anxiety by praying.
Philippians 4:6, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Worry about nothing, pray about everything. What is the biggest problem you can think of right now? Double it. Is that too big for God? It is not!
There is no problem too big for God’s power or too small for God’s concern. James 4:2 - you have not because you ask not. 1 Peter 5:7 teaches us to unload our worries on the Lord.
The peace of God will guard our hearts. Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
3. When we are anxious or worried...Reflect on praiseworthy things.
Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 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.
Someone said if you look to the world, you will be distressed;
if you look within, you will become depressed;
but if you look to Christ you will find rest.
Your brother in Christ,
BRIAN AUTRY