Faith Over Doubt

Scripture:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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. 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. Philippians 4:4-8 ESV

Devotion:

It is normal for all of us to experience stress, anxiety, and even depression at times. However, prolonged seasons of struggle require attention - and scripture invites us to bring our challenges, hardships, and doubts to the feet of Christ.

In our attempts to cope, we often turn to self-medicating behaviors: distractions like food, social media, constant activity, and even good things such as exercise or healthy eating. While these may provide temporary relief, they cannot address the root issues.

The Bible offers us the perfect antidote: to rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoicing in the Lord is finding joy in who God is, what He has done for us, and the unshakable truth that we are deeply loved and secure in Him. The root of anxiety, as simple as it may sound, is doubt. We can express doubt about ourselves, others, and even God.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the antidote to doubt.

The Apostle Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always”—not just in good times but in all circumstances. Why? because “the Lord is at hand.” Here, Paul is referring to both Jesus’ imminent return and that He is always with us, accessible to our call and wanting to help us. His presence is constant, and His faithfulness is unchanging, giving us a reason to rejoice, no matter what we face.

First, Paul encourages us to rejoice, and then goes on to address anxiety, which so many of us have struggled with at times. He urges us not to be anxious about anything, but instead to bring these worries to God through prayer, with thanksgiving and gratitude in our hearts. When we do this, God promises us His peace in return. This peace that God promises us is beyond even our own understanding, and guards our hearts, souls and minds.

At this point, Paul has taught us what to do, and he also teaches us how in verse 8 that follows.“..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.” We’ll dive into this tomorrow.

Questions:

1. What areas of your life are causing you stress or anxiety right now, and how can you bring your concerns to God in prayer today?
2. What are some circumstances in your life where you find it difficult to rejoice? How can remembering God’s constant presence and faithfulness change your perspective in those moments?
3. How do you currently respond to anxiety or doubt? What steps can you take to bring your worries to God through prayer and thanksgiving this week?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your constant presence and unchanging faithfulness. Help me to rejoice in You, even in difficult times, knowing that You are near. Teach me to bring my worries to You in prayer, with a heart of thanksgiving, trusting in Your promise of peace that surpasses all understanding. Guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and guide my thoughts to focus on what is true, pure, and worthy of praise. Strengthen my faith and remind me daily that You are in control, holding all things together. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.