“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 our new epidemic. Technology has re-wired our brains, and Instant gratification is our expectation… If we don’t get immediate fulfilment and/or relief our default response is anxiety.
This passage contains a remedy for this. It was written 2000 years before the “Anxiety & Depression Association of America” discovered the same thing and called it “Habit Reversal Training”. The ADAA’s description of HRT is “ the use of a competing response, which is an action that is incompatible with the habit you are trying to break”. They recommend gratitude for breaking anxiety, since they are incompatible in the brain together.
So, it only took psychologists 2000 years to partially catch up with the truth scripture teaches here. The full truth of course is that you can find rest in an all-powerful Heavenly Father who loves you. But this verse specifies that if you prayerfully thank God for His blessings, unexplainable peace will guard your heart and mind.
Scripture does not imply this is easy. But Paul confirms what the ADAA has finally figured out - that God has created you in a way that causes thanking Him and praising Him to bring you peace.
Ephesians describes a battle where faith is a shield that extinguishes the flaming arrows of the evil one. Anxiety is an arrow that burns hotter than most. God says faith can put it out, and gratitude can bring healing to your heart and mind.
This is a war… but God promises we are more than conquerors. Do what you can to alleviate your anxiety. Talk to your doctor, talk to your friends, eat well, get rest… But most importantly talk to God and meditate on scripture, not circumstance… Faith is your shield, and scripture is your sword so fight back.
Refuse to dwell on your past or dread your future… Reach out to others for help, you are not alone. Thank God for His blessings. Then prayerfully open your Bible and win todays battle… trusting that His blood has covered yesterday, and His loving power will control tomorrow.
“We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart.”
- Spurgeon
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