Philippians 4:1-7: a reflection

1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. 3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Paul gives the anxious a clear and gentle instruction, and a promise attached to it. In nothing be anxious, he says, but in everything, by prayer and petition 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 thoughts in Christ Jesus. The antidote to anxiety is not to suppress it or bear it alone, but to bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving; and the promise is that God's peace, beyond our understanding, will guard our hearts. We are to trade our anxiety for prayer, and receive in return a peace that guards us.

Notice the exchange Paul describes: anxiety brought to God in prayer, and God's peace given in return. He does not merely say, don't be anxious; he tells us what to do with our anxiety, to bring it to God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, making our requests known to him. And he promises a result: the peace of God, surpassing understanding, guarding our hearts and thoughts. The anxiety is not to be carried alone or suppressed, but brought to God; and God's peace, which we cannot manufacture or fully understand, is given to guard us. We bring the anxiety in prayer; God gives the peace that guards. The trade is ours to make: our anxiety for his peace.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are invited to trade our anxiety for prayer, and to receive God's guarding peace. When we are anxious, we can carry the anxiety alone, suppress it, or let it consume us; but Paul invites us to bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, and promises that God's peace will guard our hearts. The way through anxiety is not to bear it alone but to bring it to God, receiving his peace. When you are anxious, do not carry it alone or let it consume you; bring it to God in prayer with thanksgiving, and receive the peace that guards your heart. Trade your anxiety for prayer, bringing everything to God with thanksgiving, and receive the peace of God that surpasses understanding and guards your heart, as Paul urges us to be anxious for nothing but in everything to make our requests known to God; for the way through anxiety is to bring it to God in prayer, and his peace, beyond our understanding, is given to guard the hearts of those who do.

Lord, Paul gives the anxious a clear and gentle instruction, and a promise attached to it. In nothing be anxious, he says, but in everything, by prayer and petition 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 thoughts in Christ Jesus. The antidote to anxiety is not to suppress it or bear it alone, but to bring everything to you in prayer, with thanksgiving; and the promise is that your peace, beyond my understanding, will guard my heart. Show me the exchange Paul describes: anxiety brought to you in prayer, and your peace given in return. He does not merely say, don't be anxious; he tells me what to do with my anxiety, to bring it to you in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. And he promises a result: your peace, surpassing understanding, guarding my heart and thoughts. The anxiety is not to be carried alone or suppressed, but brought to you; and your peace, which I cannot manufacture or fully understand, is given to guard me. I bring the anxiety in prayer; you give the peace that guards. Take that to my heart, for I am invited to trade my anxiety for prayer, and to receive your guarding peace. When I am anxious, I can carry the anxiety alone, suppress it, or let it consume me; but Paul invites me to bring everything to you in prayer, with thanksgiving. The way through anxiety is not to bear it alone but to bring it to you. When I am anxious, keep me from carrying it alone or letting it consume me; help me bring it to you in prayer with thanksgiving, Lord, and receive the peace that surpasses understanding and guards my heart.