(Philippians 4:6-7) gives us the great antidote for anxiety: “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.”
In order to win the war over anxiety we must become so secure in Christ that His peace becomes the great guard that monitors what thoughts we allow to penetrate our hearts and minds. In our American society today anxiety is so prevalent because we are so insecure in our lives. And when we are insecure we anxiously try to find our security in people and possessions, which in the end can never satisfy our souls, which are created to find true peace only in Christ. I like how Elisabeth Elliot describes the whole anxiety/security issue when she stated: “Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don’t need to search any further for security.”1
When God is your refuge, hiding place, stronghold, shepherd, counselor, friend, redeemer, saviour, and guide then relax because He has you covered and you don’t need to be anxious anymore because we can cast all our burdens on Christ – who is more than able to handle them – while we are not.
Mankind was created to enjoy wonderful fellowship with God. Unfortunately when sin entered the world everything went haywire and anxiety and insecurity became the new norm. However, when we become saved through Christ and allow Him to run our lives we can flip the script from anxiety to contentment in Jesus. And when we know who we are in Christ and that He is our refuge, hiding place, stronghold, shepherd, counselor, friend, redeemer, saviour, and guide life becomes one great and exciting adventure with the peace of God being our bedrock foundation in all the circumstances that come our way.
My friends true contentment in Christ will vanquish the anxieties of life as we learn to enjoy His awesome presence in every aspect of our being. So let’s trust and obey Jesus, enjoy His fellowship, cast all our cares on Him and get set for peace, joy, and anxious free living now and for eternity!
I love these verses in Philippians 4. There are two other verses that I have also gone to many times in troubling times are 2 Corinthians 4:16-17. “Therefore we don not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
The older I get (I am now seven-score and five), the more power these verses have for me. I frequently “pull them out” to encourage not only myself when I become anxious. I also use them to uplift friends and loved ones who are expressing anxiety.
Thanks for the encouragement you faithfully provide in your Daily Devotional!