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Learning From Paul: Praying When Anxious  

In some ways people are better off now than those in any previous generation. We are more prosperous, more secure, more healthy. We have greater freedom. Yet anxiety is on the increase. Maybe it’s our lack of fulfillment. Maybe it’s the bombardment of bad news. Maybe it’s our living under constant stress. Maybe it’s our diminishing ability to cope with pressure. I’m not sure. But most of us struggle with touches of anxiety and some of us can be overwhelmed by anxiety. There is so much anxiety around. In Philippians 4, Paul, who had been stuck in prison for years and known his share of anxiety, outlines a pathway from anxiety to real peace for followers of Jesus. Check it out. Prayer is the key.

Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

The first antidote to anxiety is thanksgiving. Paul says, “Always rejoice in the Lord” (4:4) and pray “with thanksgiving” (4:6). It is very hard to be really thankful to God and overwhelmed by worry at the same time. Praise and anxiety are opposites. So the more we rejoice in God and the more we thank God for his blessing, the more peace will flow into our hearts. Of course, the more we worry, the less we want to rejoice. So it’s a choice we need to make. Paul says to “rejoice always” (4:4). And in case you missed it the first time, he repeats himself. This is not a call to think positively and try to ignore the facts. It’s a call to appreciate all that Jesus has done for you and recognise his control and power and promises. It’s a call to value the truth of the gospel. Rejoice - and watch that anxiety melt away. 

The second antidote to anxiety is presenting your requests to God in prayer (4:6). We do have significant worries. Our world is struggling. Frustration is growing. Leadership is often weak or self-serving. Then we add in the other continuing worries like financial difficulties, health problems, challenging children, struggling friends and family, difficult relationships and major disappointments. We really do face significant problems that naturally create anxiety for us. There is no escape. Paul knew that. Being stuck in a Roman prison was no walk in the park. But Paul says that you shouldn’t carry those worries yourself but give them up to God through prayer (4:6). Ask him for what you would like and then leave him with the problem. God will be able to handle your difficulties a lot better than you. And he can actually do something about them. 

And the result of praise and prayer? Peace (4:7). Real peace. God-type peace. The sort of peace that “guards” you and protects you from Satan’s lies and the invading anxiety that creeps through and captures your mind and heart. This is what Jesus has bought for us on the cross. The right to peace. Deep peace. Heart-guarding peace. Peace is our special privilege through Jesus. 

Prayer Practice

You don’t want your prayer to be impacted and interrupted by anxiety. That’s no way to pray with faith. So take some time today to recognise your anxieties – the surface ones and the deep ones. Hand them over to God and ask for what you would like to see him do in these situations. Then leave it all with him. He really can be trusted with your engulfing challenges. Now praise him for all that he’s done and what he is doing. You will find your faith and expectancy growing.