By Will GreenPhil 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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."
What would have to be true for these verses to be giving good guidance?
I think it would have to be that Christians have almost no control over the major events and occurrences in their life, although it often seems that we do. Instead, God must really be the one in control, who orchestrates the major and many of the minor points of our life. Otherwise worry would be the proper, rational response.
The reason for saying this is that anxiety and worry are always about trying to control something that you believe you have power over, and/or the feeling that it will be awful if you mess something up that you can mess up.
So for example, if I didn't think that I had any control over whether a job interview went well, but I just turned up determined to go through with it, then it stands to reason I wouldn't worry at all about how it would go. It's only if I thought I had it in my power to make or break the interview that I would worry.
Also, if I'm taking an exam that isn't very important then I won't worry either, because I can't mess things up by doing badly. Even if I have the power to do well or do badly, the fact that I don't care how I do on it means I'm not going to try and exert any control over its outcome beyond just turning up and doing it. My lack of concern for control means I won't worry about it.
So it's obvious that anxiety and worry is about control: about believing you can control and affect whatever issue or thing you're worried about.
So for God to tell Christians, "Do not be anxious about anything," God is pretty much saying we have almost no control over the major events of our life, or that they can't be messed up against God's will. Otherwise we ought to try to control these events, and therefore should experience a lot of anxiety and worry as part of that control. Also see
Matt 6:24-34 where God says the only things that we should worry about are things that we can obviously and easily affect.
A possible exception to this is that, if we reject what God obviously and unambiguously wants for us, then we can completely go against God's will. But even then God could work around it, and in any case God is assuming in these verses that we won't do that.
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Comments (19)
I agree that we need to let God have control of our lives; however that doesn't mean lying down and not trying. The Bible also says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Part of God's will for us is to use our free will to do the best we can with the opportunities He gives. I do have control over whether I do what He's called me to do or not. If I don't study for the exam or don't prepare for the interview, that's my fault, not His.
What we need to do is prepare as best we can and leave the results in His hands. That's the balance we need to achieve, not an "I can't do anything about it, so I might as well not care" attitude.
Great post!
@Pickwick12@xanga - Good comment.
@musterion99@xanga - Thanks
I agree that we have no control over many life events. We can change no one besides ourself. And sometimes we can not change ourself without God. Worrying and anxiety don't always stem from control issues though. I think worry and anxiety often come because I care. I care if my husband has health issues. No I have no control over them but I care. If you see beyond the first part of the sentence... "Do not be anxious" into the next part.... "but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," then you see that worry can lead you to pray. This is what I start to do when I begin to worry. Let worry and anxiety prompt you to take it to God.
@kamrandolph@xanga - Great points.
@Pickwick12@xanga - Thanks! I like your points also.
What is the point of free will then?
It's not possible not to be anxious sometimes. It's motivating. Also, wouldn't god taking care of your anxieties constitute as pretty massive micromanagement?
How can I not be anxious if I'm facing scary circumstances, like doing a job well (which it seems I have control), or health issues, which I sense less control? It feels like I'm facing death when I'm facing that exam or job decision, or financial planning decision, etc, ie I can feel like if it doesn't go well than I will feel pain or shame or some kind of outcome that's a 'worse case scenario' bumping around in my head.
I'm not speaking metaphorically btw. It actually does feel like death to me (in each of those circumstances) ... and I'm tempted to feel anxious about each one. Did Paul not foresee my own circumstances that happen to be worthy of anxiousness, or is Paul speaking metaphorically (maybe he means 'wouldn't it be great if we could not be anxious.')
This is a live issue for me right now, but I'm coming to believe Paul means exactly what he says...we CAN be free of anxiousness. And the way to do it, I'm discovering...is to die! Die to my (fleshly) desires (luke 9:23) for reputation (doing well on that exam), die to my desires for financial security, die to my desires to do a job perfectly, the way I want, or even a 'good' job. And merely ask God for all of those things, but only seeking them in their proper order (mat 6:33).
Jame 4 says it very well "...submit yourself to God!!"
Nice post!!
@kamrandolph@xanga - @Pickwick12@xanga -
@tendollar4ways@xanga - and regarding free will? We sure have it...we're free to be anxious, to hold tightly to our 'life', but seems we're encouraged to be as little children. My daughter had free will when she was a child, but she freely received what was offered her (and asking for what she wanted)...and I suspect she had freedom from anxiety.
@tendollar4ways@xanga - Free will is the decision to follow Jesus or go your own way.
@god_stories@xanga - I 100% agree that we can, and should, be free from anxiety as Christians. I do not agree with any idea that that means we no longer need to try in life. There's a balance where we die to ourselves but still give our entire effort to the opportunities God places in front of us. Good thoughts.
@god_stories@xanga - I did not say that we could not be free from anxiety. I just said to me it was not always a control issue. It stemmed from me caring not controling issues. I know I have some issues with control, but my controling issues do not cause me anxiety.
I agree that we can be free from it only through God's power.
If you notice I pointed out how we can be free and do something different. I suggested that use the anixiety to pray with thanksgiving.
The last part of the verse says "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Which I admit I did not point out previously. This is what I do when I become anxious and often praying when I do feel anxious then brings peace.
I have plenty to be anxious about: my husbands health issues, my fears, and other things. When I start to become anxious then I pray. It is used to draw me closer to God and gain his peace instead of anxiety.
@Pickwick12@xanga - "What we need to do is prepare as best we can and leave the results in His hands."
I totally agree with you. I am going to take a certificate exam this afternoon and I am quite anxious now. But after I saw your comment, I feel relieved. Thanks :)
If you do the best, god will do the rest :)
There have been some great comments clarifying what should be taken away from what I wrote...
I think that anxiety should 'legitimately' come from caring about someone else, as part of what it means to be a loving person. I.e. even if we trust God completely, there's something odd if we aren't anxious about a loved one in very hard circumstances.
2 Cor 11:28: "And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my
anxiety for all the churches."
So Paul felt heaps of anxiety when it was about caring for others. And yes, we do have the free will not to pay attention to God, and stuff things up, and to the extent that worry is a part of trying not to do that, then we should worry about that, I suppose. But Paul also says don't be anxious, and it's God who makes us pay attention to Him anyway (yet part of that involves our response) so I guess one could make a very detailed analysis of what types of things/situations/conditions to worry in.
thanks for this post! great timing for me. God Bless!
It's sad because people feel like they HAVE to take medication for these sorts of things...I thought I did when I was younger. Antidepressants and anxiety medicine seemed like a necessity for me. One day I realized God doesn't give you a body that you can't handle. I was letting my body take control instead of my spirit. I am so thankful that I was able to see the light in that. I have never been happier and felt as strong. :) To know that the Lord loves you WILL overcome any depression or anxiety. God bless.
@Rigeonz@xanga - COMPLETELY TRUE! :)