I recently listened to a message on anxiety. Anxiety has become a buzz word. It seems that everyone struggles with anxiety. Talk to any teenager you know and they will most likely tell you they struggle with it. All of us in mid-life also feel the weight of the decisions and issues that bombard us everyday that cause us to worry. Even those who are more seasoned who may normally approach life with certainty and confidence, have found themselves over the last 18 months of Covid, feeling unsettled and anxious.

Anxiety has spread throughout our culture. It is debilitating. It can be life altering. Many physical symptoms can stem purely from anxiety. In Philippians 4, Paul is talking to the church of Philippi. Christians love to quote these verses and put them in cute little frames but as Christ followers, we must remind ourselves that there are some commands in there not just a motivational speech. In verse 6 Paul says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” It doesn’t say you should consider doing this or try to. It says to do it.

Nothing should cause us anxiety. Not relationships. Not money. Not health. Who is my trust in or what have I place it in? Is my trust in money? Is my trust in others? Is my trust in my own body?

I find it ironic that many believers in Jesus say that faith is one of their spiritual gifts while struggling with anxiety. Really?!? Is that possible? Most of us have had experiences that try us and push our limits of faith. There are circumstances that weigh heavily on our hearts – even Jesus himself had those times. The key is to not let that turn into anxiety. My trust is not in those around me, but in the One who saved me. My trust is not in money but the God who has all treasures in heaven and on earth at His fingertips. My trust is not in my own body but in the God who has had my days numbered from the very beginning of time. He alone is worthy.

He is the God who sees, just as Hagar said in Genesis 16:13. He sees my mess and my insecurities and my worries and He wants me to bring them to Himself. He is able to handle anything I bring to Him. Praise God!