“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
—Philippians 4:6

Two things immediately stand out to me when I read this verse.

First, I see the Lord telling us not to be distressed. I don’t know about you, but I have to fight to not be afraid. When things happen in life that we feel are out of our control, the natural human tendency is to be uneasy about it. But this verse is telling us to guard our hearts and be anxious for nothing, but rather stay rooted in God’s peace, His shalom.

There are probably things in your life right now that you’re uptight about. Maybe you are a student nervous about an exam. Or perhaps you’re anxious about a health concern that you or a loved one has. Maybe you’re fearful about money. Whatever you’re dealing with, take a step back, pause for a second, and lift the concern up to Him.

That brings us to the second insight from this verse. It tells us that when we’re anxious, we should not only talk to God about it, but we should ask for His help with thanksgiving. When we thank God, we remind ourselves of all that He has done in the past, which raises our expectation of what He will do in the present and future. By faith we thank Him that He hears us and will be faithful to us.

Beloved, the Father doesn’t want us to be anxious. He wants us to trust Him and live in the security of His love and care for us. His Word says He takes care of the birds of the air, and not one sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing it (Matt. 6:26; 10:29–31). If that’s how He treats the birds, you can be confident that He is involved in your life and there is nothing for you to fear.

Father, forgive me, and please deliver me from anxiety. Help me today. I lift my concerns up to You. [Say whatever your concern is.] Father, I ask You to strengthen me with Your peace right now. I also want to come to You right now with a spirit of thanksgiving, praising You for Your faithfulness and all the things You’ve already done in the past. Father, I’m asking You now to give me faith in You in this situation. Father, help me. I repent of anxiety, worry, and fear; deliver me from this spirit. Help me to guard my heart.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Divine Truth (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.