What Does the Bible Say About… Anxiety?

We live in an anxious age. We possess access to information in a way few throughout human history have experienced, and we are regularly overloaded. Social media alone exposes us to countless alarming headlines, allows unreliable news to spread unchecked, and begs us to fixate ever more on ourselves. It’s unsurprising Gen Z has been called the “Anxious Generation” (Jonathan Haidt).

On Sunday, Pastor Michael shared that we fight anxiety by finding joy in Christ. We began a sermon series exploring biblical passages that deal with a variety of topics, from friendship to finances. Michael launched this series with a sermon on Philippians 4:4-7 — a passage with ever-timely wisdom for those experiencing anxiety.

Anxiety has been described as a response to an unknown or perceived threat. The threats we perceive vary in validity, but as Christians, we can be confident that tribulations will indeed come (see Acts 14:21–22). How is it, then, that we can experience abundant peace? Interestingly, this peace is not found in solving the problems which concern us, nor is it found in ignoring them.

In Philippians, Paul presented a counter-cultural approach to handling anxiety: Pray. Philippians 4:6-7 reads, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV). 

We can trust the Lord who is sovereign over all things. He is at hand, He is listening, and He is working.

Christians can take deep comfort in knowing the Lord is with us. When we feel tempted to worry, we can remember the God who upholds the universe is at hand. We can actually bring our requests to Him with thanksgiving. He is with us, and He cares about us. As 1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “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).

In times of anxiety, we might feel tempted to bypass prayer and simply complete the tasks we feel we must complete. However, only God is sovereign over all the things that concern us, and only He can give peace that surpasses understanding.

We live in an anxious world, and we may find ourselves tempted to be anxious, too. If so, let’s pray to the God who cares for us. He is present, He gives peace that surpasses understanding, and He calls us to rejoice.

Resources:

Reflection Questions:

  • What, if anything, do you tend to be anxious about?

  • Why can we trust God in the midst of chaotic times?

  • What steps can you take to cultivate a stronger prayer life?

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