Give It Up

The grip of anxiety. Maybe you know the feeling. There are plenty of things in our life that can produce anxiety. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, involving feelings of fear, tension, and worry. Anxiety isn’t necessarily bad. At times it can work to our advantage. However, when our anxiety is present long term it’s an issue. I am writing this with an anxious mind. My thoughts are racing. They are swirling around uncertainty. My anxiety has ramped up with many decisions that need to be made. I try to sit still but the quiet eludes me. Why do we get anxious?

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Philippi, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (4:6). Our anxiety is brought on by a lack of trust. It identifies where we are looking to resolve our situation. When anxiety grips us we are trusting in ourselves, not God. When we trust ourselves we can find our situation more threatening than it is. There is peace in trusting God. However, we insist on going alone. Doing things our way and in our own strength and wisdom. Paul tells us this is all wrong and he offers some practical ways to combat our anxiety. Remember, I’m writing this for myself as much as trying to offer encouragement for those in the throes of anxiety.

Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything. If we are trusting God there is no reason for our being in the grip of anxiety. We need to keep in mind that Paul is in prison at the time he writes this letter. Yet, he is able to say, don’t be anxious. He goes on to say we pray. We should send petitions to God. In doing so we are acknowledging we need help. In true prayer we shift our trust from us to God. We are giving up control over the situation causing our anxiety. Here’s the tough part. Paul then says “with thanksgiving.” Yeah right, I’m in the throes of anxiety so what’s to be thankful for? We have a lot to be thankful for. When we start thanking God for the good in our lives, our minds focus on God and not on our anxious filled situation. So thanksgiving refocuses our thoughts to God. So we can turn our anxiety around through prayer and thanksgiving. If we are trusting God to guide us, what is there to be anxious about? Trust God! Pray, send your petitions heavenward, and let it be filled with thanksgiving.