Sometimes when people have difficulty dealing with a particular issue, a pat response such as “You’re a Christian, just get over it!” may not exactly be helpful. Such is the case with the issue of anxiety or mental pressure. Sure it might be nice to offer general support and encouragement but it’s much better if the Scriptures can give us specific guidance. Anxiety, mental fatigue, restlessness and similar issues are certainly challenges for many people. Thankfully, the Bible provides wonderful insight regarding these.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [ESV]
Now you will note that the first part of the Biblical advice is indeed the encouragement to “Don’t be anxious” – however, thankfully it doesn’t just stop there. In so many cases where the Word of God warns against certain actions or emotions, it also provide the godly alternative. And that is the case here. Instead of being anxious or mentally distracted, God’s advice is to pray and that prayer is to be done with thanksgiving. And when you make the decision that instead of being anxious about a situation, that you are going to pray to God with thanksgiving, he also tells you what the outcome will be.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [ESV]
God’s promise is that his peace will guard your heart and mind. The action that you take to pray will bring this result to your life. Note that we are not told that we have to figure out how that peace will come to us – that is God’s job. Our job is to pray – it’s pretty obvious who has the harder job in this situation, isn’t it? Because of his great care and love for us, he does the hard part.
I Peter 5:6, 7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [ESV]
Because God cares so much for us, he is willing to let us cast all of our anxieties upon him. There is no question that he is going to be far better at handling them than we ever could. So when we find ourselves in a situation that fills us with anxiety – no matter how difficult we might think it is, God’s encouragement is for us to cast all of our anxieties on him, to pray to him with thanksgiving and the result? He will make sure that his peace guards our hearts and minds. We get to do the easy bit and he, as always, does the hard part. Sounds a whole lot better than continuing to live an anxious life, doesn’t it?