Today’s reading: Philippians 4
When I arrived home from the office around 5pm today, I found my son napping (he was supposed to be studying for finals). Turns out, he wasn’t feeling well because he and his friends each drank of can of Bang® energy drink this afternoon. I snickered. In order to keep myself from saying, “Duh, are you stupid?” or “How many times do I have to tell you those things will make your belly hurt”, I asked him how it made him feel. He said it made him feel great for the first hour, but then it left him with a bellyache and feeling anxious the remainder of the afternoon. (I could barely talk to him as he was dancing around the room trying to get his nervous energy out!) I don’t know about you, but I hate the feeling of uncontrolled anxiousness (or anxiety).
The Oxford English Dictionary defines anxiety as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Sound vaguely familiar to feelings you’ve experienced before? Let’s take it a step further, anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness because they involve excessive fear or anxiety. Did you know that anxiety disorders are the most common of type of mental disorders? According to Psychiatry.org, they will affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. This is an epidemic in our society.
Like I said, I hate the feeling of uncontrolled anxiousness. Historically, I’ve always described myself as a pretty logical, objective (and mostly boring) person. There have been times in my life I’ve fought a lot of stress, but I didn’t often struggle with anxiousness (or sleeplessness). Unfortunately over the last three years or so, I’ve wrestled with these things more than I remember at any other time of my life. (And no, I do not drink those energy drinks!) While I’m far from having an anxiety disorder, I still don’t like it. And though I can point to several things that often cause my feelings, I’d like to focus our study today on what the Bible has to say about being anxious. God is pretty clear –
Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6)…
…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 (Philippians 4:6-7).
What is the opposite of anxiety, fear, nervousness or uneasiness? Peace. Not the absence of conflict, positive thinking, or simply feeling calm. The peace Paul is talking about in verse 7 is the confident assurance that God works all things together according to his divine plan. A comfort that he has every situation under control. The cure for anxiousness is the peace of Christ, and it is only obtainable by turning my problems over to God and submitting to his will.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (Philippians 4:19-20).
This is just the reminder I needed today.