If you’ve been reading my articles and short devotionals over the years, you probably know my favorite place to go when I’m facing anxiety and worry is Philippians 4.

A great tool to use when studying Scripture is to look at the key words in the passage. Let’s look at Philippians 4:4-9 [NIV] and focus on the key words in this passage. My prayer is that this blesses us, and helps us get rid of the dreadful worries and fears that plague us, and put our minds on track where they should be: faithfully praising God through our storms, firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and remembering the LORD is sovereign over all – even the things that cause us anxiety and worry.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. – When are we to rejoice in the Lord? Always! Not “always unless…” Not once we feel like it. Not when circumstances improve. When we rejoice in the LORD, we put our focus on Him, not our problems. We recognize He is in control, not us. We realize He has everything in His hands. Would the apostle Paul instruct us to rejoice always – even repeating the point to emphasize it – if there was a reason to worry instead?

⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; – I love that word “reasonableness”. Other versions of the Bible translate the Greek term as “gentleness”. I believe the message here is this: don’t freak out. Be calm in the storm. Think of Jesus on the boat with the disciples as this massive storm rages around them (Matthew 8:23-27). The twelve are in a panic, sure they’re going to drown. Jesus is in the back of the boat, sleeping peacefully. When they awaken Jesus in their fright, He says, “O ye of little faith…” And calms the storm. When Jesus got in the boat with the disciples, do you suppose He knew the storm would take place? He led them right into it! Sometimes He does the same with us. Never ever will you face a situation where God looks at it and says, “Hmm… I didn’t see that coming.” When facing a storm, we need to go to the LORD first – in faith – and let others see our faith in God. No matter what’s going on, God is with you. Just like Jesus was in the boat with the twelve.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – What should we fear? What is there to be anxious about? Nothing. We are to not worry about anything. Instead we are to take everything to God in prayer, trusting Him, knowing He is in the boat with us. And – a huge key to this – go to Him with thanksgiving. We can do that when we surrender our lives to the LORD, knowing deep down there is nothing too hard for Him, that He loves us with a depth we cannot measure. We go where God leads us, but we don’t always know where God leads us. Or why. But we must trust that He has a purpose for us – to grow us, strengthen us, help us. This is not merely for our own sake, but for those He places in our lives as well. Once we let go of the worries and fears over our situations, and trust that God is in control, we can experience God’s peace. We don’t need to figure it out. It’s “beyond understanding”. It may make no earthly sense to be at peace with the struggles we’re facing. But that’s why it’s God’s peace He’s giving us. It is based on our sure hope in the Lord’s goodness, grace, mercy and love. As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His coming crucifixion, He said to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27, ESV).

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. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – We need to focus our thoughts on the things of God, on His Word, on His promises. Not on our problems. Not on our worries. But on our Heavenly Father, on Jesus Christ, on the Holy Spirit. Jesus modeled grace under extreme pressure for us. And the Bible repeatedly tells us not to be anxious.

I hope this has blessed you deeply. If I can pray for you, please let me know. And if would please continue praying for me, I would appreciate it. It isn’t easy to let go of anxiety and give it all to God. But we have to learn to let our faith grow through our trials. :In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b, ESV).