Help for Anxiety

Paul was obviously not concerned about hurt feelings, and he certainly didn’t “walk on egg shells” when dealing with a matter.

Two ladies in the local church in Philippi named Euodia and Syntyche were having a bit of a spat. In his letter to this church (the New Testament book of Philippians) Paul names them in the final chapter. He exhorts them to be in unity, and then commended them as fellow-laborers in the gospel. So we see there was some division and disunity within this early church.

The Philippian Christians were also suffering persecution. Philippi had been the site of a key military victory by Augustus Caesar years before, and as a result, it had been made a Roman colony. The man in power at the time of Paul’s writing was none other than Nero Caesar, an atrocious beast of a man—a psychopathic killer who delighted in all things evil, including the persecution of the Christ-followers. Paul himself was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote to this church, probably around 62 AD.

Humanly speaking, with the persecution outside the church, and the factions within the church, these folks had good reason to be anxious. And then Paul says something that seems almost harsh to these people in this church. He says, “be anxious for nothing.”

How could he expect such a thing from folks facing such circumstances? You know, like watching their loved ones be fed to lions, or used as tarred human torches to light Nero’s gardens at night. Understanding the historical context of the Philippian church demonstrates that their situation was nothing trivial. I have a feeling Euodia and Syntyche weren’t having a controversy over the color of the carpet in the church sanctuary.

But Paul doesn’t simply stop at the exhortation to not be anxious. He then goes on to give words of encouragement for those in the first century, words which are applicable to us today.

While most of us in the west are not facing anything like these early Christians, we also live in a world of worried, stressed, anxious people. With our modern advancements, comforts and wealth, human reasoning would argue that ours ought to be the most contented generation in history. Yet statistics show us that record numbers of people are on antidepressants and other anti-anxiety medications for mental health. The psychiatrist’s and counselor’s offices have a steady stream of people looking for some help for their anxieties. My own young people tell me of their peers dealing with depression and anxiety, and that this is not the exception, but the norm. And this appears to be the case from the public school to the Christian college.

I believe there are many and varied reasons for this, such as a major focus on image and fame, social media, guilt from easy access to vice, etc. The reasons are not the topic of the post today.

Now, this topic does get us into deep waters immediately. I certainly don’t want to give the impression that I believe there are no legitimate issues when it comes to anxiety and severe depression. There are. Some folks truly have serious struggles in these areas, struggles that of course they don’t want. Praise the Lord for certain modern day advancements in medicines and diagnoses to help those who truly need them. There are real physical issues, life events, mental disorders, etc. that can be the cause of emotional and mental issues. My purpose is not to add anxiety on top of anxiety for someone who is struggling.

But I do believe that there are answers in the Bible, and real help from the Lord for many of our struggles in this life. And I hope the simple points I have put down here can be a help to some. These points can be applied by everyone, regardless of the various struggles we each may face.

Here are four things from Philippians chapter four that can help us with anxiety and worry.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:6-9

Pray – A Good Prayer Life

“…by prayer and supplication… let your requests be made known to God.”

We are told that in our modern times, even as connected as we are, that our relationships and community ties are weaker than previous generations, leading to anxiety. Of course, this is one major advantage in having a church family! But as Christians, we also have the relationship of all—with God the Father Himself.

I’m sure you have heard or said it before, something along the lines of, “Well, the least we can do is pray.” Prayer is certainly not the least thing we can do. It is the first thing we can do.

What a privilege to have a God who desires our prayers. In another letter, Paul reminded the Gentiles, “But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) If we have trusted in the Son of God, the way to the Father has been opened up for us. Now we have access into the very throne room of the Creator.

When Israel made the tabernacle, and later the Temple, God gave explicit instructions on its construction. The most inner place was the “Holy of Holies” where God’s presence dwelt among men, and which none dared to enter. Only one man, the High Priest, ever dared enter this place, once a year, to make sacrifice for the people. When Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God died on the cross, becoming the Great Sacrifice all other sacrifices had looked forward to, the veil that separated the people from God’s presence was split in two, signifying that the way to God was now opened to all who believe.

Prayer is the awesome privilege of meeting the Holy God in the “Holy of Holies.”

Prayer reminds us of who God is, the all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present, unchanging God Who is in control of all things.

Paul encourages the people of God to be anxious for nothing, but to be prayerful in everything. God is truly concerned with every detail of your life. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7 that we are welcome to cast all of our anxieties upon the Lord, “for he cares for you.”

How pitiful that we humans attempt to cast our anxieties on other things. Many attempt to drown their anxieties in entertainment, work, or alcohol and drugs. These things only add anxiety upon anxiety.

Can I encourage you to take your anxieties to the Lord? Maybe it’s been a long time since you and He had a conversation. When was the last time you sat under a shade tree, just you and God, and poured your heart out to Him?

Praise – Praying with Thanksgiving

“…in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving…”

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say, rejoice!”

Philippians is called “the epistle of joy.” The words “rejoice” and “joy” appear all through the letter—in this book to these people.

Worry and anxiety can be diffused when your heart is filled with praise and worship to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Take time to praise Him just for Who He is. Rejoice in the thought that He knows you and loves you.

Sing!

And I mean sing out loud. Being “off key” will even work. (At least for your own benefit.) Sure, there are times to “make melody in your heart to the Lord,” but there is something about singing out loud to God that is a healing like none other. God has given us the wonderful gift of music as a vehicle of praise to Him.

In verse seven we then see that the result of a consistent prayer and praise life is, “the peace of God.” This peace is something that, “surpasses understanding.” And, this peace will, “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Ponder – A Good Thought Life

“Whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… think on these things.”

The daily wars we most often face are wars of the mind. The battles all begin here, and eventually come out of our mouths, fingertips, and feet. It is of utmost importance that we guard what enters into our minds, ridding our minds of anxious thoughts, as we are able. It may be necessary to take inventory and see if we are feeding anxiety and worry into our minds.

A person who closes his day out with a scan of the latest headlines just before he drifts off for some sweet slumber probably should not be so bewildered about why he struggles with some fears. You do know that fear sells, don’t you?

We must take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Martin Luther once said, “You cannot prevent a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent it from building a nest in your hair.” In other words, we have no control of random, evil, or strange thoughts that might come knocking on the door of our minds, but we don’t have to invite them in for lunch. Having a disciplined mind is important.

It is easy to forget that we are in a daily battle. Each day we face the very devils themselves, and our sinful flesh that Satan can so easily “beset” us with. We fight against lies every day. Christ said of Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

The enemy will whisper lies in your ear about yourself, about others, and ultimately, about God Himself. We must fight against the lies in our mind with the truth. What is the truth? Jesus is the truth. The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth.” The Word of God is the truth.

You can surround yourself and your mind with truth by reading God’s word every day. Let it be the first thing you do when you wake in the morning, and the last thing you put into your head before you go to sleep. Try posting verses everywhere you are through the day. Memorize God’s word, hiding it in your heart. Keep it before you all day.

Remove whatever is ungodly in your life, and replace it with things that encourage the wholesome virtues in the list above. As King David said, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.” (Psalm 101:3) Guilt can be a sure cause of anxiety.

Practice – Live Like You Ought to Live

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Put into practice the things you have learned and received from your teachers, from God’s word, and from God’s servants. As James tells us, don’t be a hearer of the word only, but be a doer of the word. Exercise virtue in your life. And the reward of obedience to God is the God of peace Himself.

The result of a life of consistent prayer and praise toward God is the peace of God upon you.

The result of an obedient life that takes every thought into captivity is the God of peace with you.

The peace of God upon you. The God of peace with you. Is this not what we all need? 

God does not leave us alone. He fights our battles with us. And when we draw near to Him in our feeble efforts, He has promised that He—the God of peace—will draw near to us. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:6-7)

A Benediction and a Song

I love the benediction from the final chapter of Hebrews that is often read at the close of our Sunday morning services. I will close out this post with this benediction and then a song:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Master the Tempest is Raging

Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest thou not that we perish?"
How canst thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening
A grave in the angry deep?

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will.
"Peace, be still!"
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or struggles or evil, whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies:
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, be still! Peace, be still!"
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, peace, be still!"

Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today;
The depths of my sad heart are troubled,
Oh, waken and save, I pray;
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul!
And I perish! I perish, dear Master:
Oh, hasten and take control.

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will.
"Peace, be still!"
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or struggles or evil, whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies:
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, be still! Peace, be still!"
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, peace, be still!"

(by Mary Ann Baker)

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