Have you ever seen so much anxiety as we have today? We have an entire generation (Gen Z, those born between 1997-2012) that is known as “the anxious generation”. It would be difficult for anyone living in our modern world to not feel some anxiety from time to time.
We have more hatred and political division than at any other time in our lifetimes, constant wars and rumors of wars, and an ever-growing distrust in institutions once thought to be unassailable. It’s a mess. Yet the timeless Word of God tells us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-7). How can we reconcile this Biblical instruction with the realities we face every day?
It’s interesting to look at the different ways translators interpret the original Greek in the various versions of the Bible. Most versions tell us to “Be anxious for nothing” (KJV, LSB, and ESV to name a few), while others read, “Don’t worry about anything” (HCSB and NLT, for example). Anxiety and worry are similar, but have some notable differences. Worry is more often caused by actual events or circumstances, while anxiety often triggers off of possibilities that have not yet come to be. Both cause a stressful response in our bodies and can be debilitating. What is most important for us to realize is both are triggered by a lack of trust in the sovereignty of God.
When we worry about the future, we discount Jesus’s teaching that we shouldn’t worry about anything because He is aware of our needs and more than able to fill them (Matthew 6:25-30). I doubt we ever make a conscious decision to think, “Hey, I’m not going to believe what Jesus said here”. But that is what we are saying in our hearts. I don’t want to admit it, but worrying is a sin. It’s not believing Jesus is who He said He is.
The same goes for anxiety. When Paul told us to not be anxious, he also gave us instructions for dealing with those feelings. Look again at Philippians 4:6-7. When we feel anxious, the key is to take those feelings to God in prayer. He is your Heavenly Father; talk to Him. Let Him know how you feel. When you do, Paul tells us the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. Prayer is the antidote for anxiety. That’s not just a nice thought, it is biblical truth!
Be anxious for nothing by taking your anxiety to God. Don’t dwell on everything that could go wrong, but focus on the goodness, love, and sustaining grace of Jesus Christ. God created you to do specific work for His Kingdom (Ephesians 2:10), He redeemed you into His family at a significant cost (1 Peter 1:18-19), and He is faithful to sustain you until He calls you to be with Him forever (Philippians 1:6). There’s nothing to be anxious about. You do not need to fear or worry. Jesus is on the throne, He is in control, and He is greater than any problem you will ever face (John 16:33).