2/16/2025
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything…”
We are hybrid creatures, as was Jesus. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. God created these bodies from the human DNA of our parents, building them from a vast pool of genes. With billions of potential possibilities, here we are in these specific human containers.
So, although we are spiritual beings, we live a life that includes the physical world, and that can feel overwhelming at times. The pressures of work, family, finances, and even just the constant barrage of information can leave us feeling anxious and on edge. It is a common struggle for those of us with a body. We have a psychologist in our congregation, and I asked her if there was a particularly common condition that she saw in her practice, and anxiety was at the top of her list. Today I want to explore how we can calm the chaos and loosen the grip of anxiety.
Research shows that spiritual health and psychological health are closely connected. Individuals with higher levels of spirituality tend to experience lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. They enjoy greater feelings of happiness and life satisfaction and demonstrate improved coping mechanisms during stressful times. Greater spiritual connections enhance our ability to deal with emotional distress, including feelings of anger and guilt. Spiritual vitality results in faster recovery from depression, particularly in patients with chronic illnesses.
Anxiety is characterized by feelings of worry, fear, and unease. It can manifest as physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling, as well as psychological symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.
Anxiety, in its milder forms, can be a natural response to stress. But when it becomes chronic and overwhelming, it can steal our joy, disrupt our peace, and even impact our physical health. It can make us feel trapped. If we hold to the old wives’ tale that bad things come in threes, then we are ever on the lookout for that trio of adversity to find completion. That is anxiety.
But the good news is that we do not have to live in this state of perpetual unease. God offers us a path to freedom from anxiety, a path paved with faith, prayer, and trust. We will visit anxiety occasionally, but it does not have to be our default state of mind.
Even Jesus felt anxiety. The New Testament portrays Jesus as experiencing a wide range of human emotions, including joy, sorrow, compassion, anger, and anxiety. One example of Jesus feeling anxious is found on the night before his crucifixion, when he retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Matthew 26:37-38 describes this moment: “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’”
This passage depicts Jesus in a state of profound emotional distress, indicative of anxiety. He wanted their companionship and support for what was about to happen. God has made us so that we feel His power when we connect with each other, and Jesus knew and valued the power of communal prayer. This aspect of his humanity allows us to see Jesus not just as a distant divine figure, but as someone who fully understands and shares in the human condition. Through his life and example, we find solace and strength, knowing that even the Son of God faced moments of profound anxiety and emerged with faith and trust in God’s plan.
One of the most powerful passages on anxiety is our opening verse in its entirety: Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Anxiety is real and we are not to ignore it. Rather, we are asked to change our focus, from dwelling on our worries and bring it to God. This is what Jesus did in the garden. Prayer is not a ritual; it is a conversation with God. It is an opportunity to pour out our hearts to him, to share our fears, our doubts, our anxieties, and make specific requests of God, asking for His help and guidance.
And this is done with a heart filled with thanksgiving. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to anxiety. When we focus on what we are thankful for, we shift our perspective from what is lacking to what we already have. It reminds us of God’s faithfulness and His constant presence in our lives. Even amid our struggles, there are always things to be grateful for.
And what is the result of this prayerful surrender, this turning to God with our anxieties and our gratitude? “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the promise. Not necessarily the removal of all our problems, but something far more profound: the peace of God.
This peace is not something we can conjure ourselves. It is not based on our circumstances, because our circumstances are often the very source of our anxiety. This peace “transcends all understanding.” It is a peace that surpasses our human comprehension. It is a divine peace, a gift from God. And this peace acts as a guard, protecting our hearts and minds. It shields us from being overwhelmed by fear and worry. It allows us to face the challenges of life with a sense of calm and confidence, knowing that God is with us.
Another powerful verse to consider is Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus reminds us that worrying about the future is futile. We cannot control what tomorrow holds, but we can trust that God will be with us, whatever comes. Focusing on the present moment, on the blessings of today, can help us to release our grip on future anxieties.
Finally, 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This simple yet profound verse reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. He cares deeply for us, and he invites us to cast our anxieties upon him, knowing that He can bear them. This is what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane and invites us to follow his example.
Therapists might suggest being mindful of our thoughts. Observe them without judgment. By recognizing anxious thoughts as temporary and not necessarily accurate, we can prevent these thoughts from escalating.
They may suggest getting adequate sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and other substances, and seeking social support. With Jesus as an example, we can open our hearts, connect with friends, family, or support groups that can provide emotional support and reduce feelings of isolation. Sharing experiences, being open to love, and receiving encouragement from others can be immensely helpful in managing anxiety.
While anxiety can be challenging, it does not have to define us. By turning to God in prayer, by cultivating gratitude, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, and by trusting in his unwavering love and care, we can find calm in the chaos and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. It is my prayer that we cast our anxieties on Christ, knowing that he cares for us, so that we can lead a more peaceful, fulfilling life.
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