Philippians 4:6-7
Did you ever know someone who seems to never be rattled? The sky may be falling in one way or another, yet he/she is as cool as a cucumber? A dear friend and brother like this in my life is Damian. And when asked about it, Damian heads to this passage as foundational to his perspective.
In this verse, the apostle Paul is not mincing words. In fact, he writes in the form of a command: "Do not be anxious about anything" because to do so is to sin. To do so is to fail to trust that God is big enough to handle it.
Sometimes that's easier said than done. Many of us, in our work and daily living, encounter some absolutely terrible, even horrific, things. Read the paper, watch the news, scan social media, reflect on a "bad week" and all sorts of examples and images will come readily to mind. Clearly, we live in a broken world, where the flaws of man can impinge upon our daily walk and cast our faith asunder if we are not vigilant.
At moments like these, a discipline that people like Damian enlist is to come back to this passage for strength and guidance -- and for "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding." Graced with such peace through prayer, we can then move off of the anxiety-riddled concept that we can somehow figure out, take on, and solve all the world's problems to simply discern, "How can I serve here...in this place...as an agent of light... today?"
With such discipline over time to cast my concerns on God through prayer, then free my mind to trust and serve humbly as His instrument, I allow myself to embrace -- and even enjoy -- whatever comes my way, in the only lifetime that I will ever have. And over time, through such disciplines and through God's grace that comes from them, my hope is to one day receive a gift provided to the mature Christian: the ability to live joyfully and without worry in a broken world.
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Dear Lord,
I recall the words of the classic hymn: "Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer...." So today I cast my concerns at your feet. May I build the discipline to regularly bring my concerns through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to You. Then help me to let any anxiety go, knowing that, though the waters may rage, I will one day claim my eternal safe harbor in You. In the peace of Christ, I pray. Amen.
