The Cure for Anxiety
“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.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
It happens regularly nowadays. A beep goes off in a room full of people. In response to the beep, someone gets up, leaves the room, and makes a phone call. Something needed immediate attention, and the phone call took care of it.
Life is full of things that need immediate attention. Problems, frustrations, and distresses can produce anxiety and rob us of peace. God doesn’t want this to happen, so he has provided a way that we can get in touch with him immediately when anxiety attacks.
Anxiety is God’s beeper system alerting us that it’s time to talk to God about a situation that worries us. God invites us to come to him in prayer when anxiety threatens, and he promises that he will restore peace in our lives.
We are welcome to come to God with any request, large or small. Nothing is too great for God’s power; nothing is too small for him to care about. If it is a concern to you, it is a concern to God.
We’re encouraged to come “with thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving arises from remembering who God is and what he does for us.
- Remember that God is love and that nothing can separate us from his love (1 John 4:16; Romans 8:38-39).
- Remember that God is mighty and that his strong right arm is our defense (Psalm 60:5).
- Remember that God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life (Psalm 23:6), and you will always be thankful (Colossians 2:7).
The result of prayer is peace—“the peace of God, which transcends all understanding”—a peace that is beyond the ability of humans to contrive or produce.
God not only works out for good the situations we place in his hands (Romans 8:28); he also works in us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Is God beeping you through some concern in your heart or life? Get in touch with him immediately. Don’t delay! He’ll be glad to have you come. He’s invited you. He has a wonderful peace to give you.
Pray
Praise God—the hearer of prayer, the peace giver, the One who guards your heart and mind in Jesus Christ.
- Ask God to forgive you for any times you may have handled anxiety improperly.
- Thank God for the peace he gives in the midst of troubling situations.
- Ask God to give you peace and to guard your heart and mind.
–Dr. Alvin VanderGriend is the author of numerous books on prayer, including Love to Pray from which this article is adapted.
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