- Be anxious for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
- And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In an age filled with constant emotional stimulus, is it realistic to be “anxious for nothing”? “Or is it, as some suggest, Paul’s words no longer apply today?” Because we move with the speed of
technology—which now reaches into every corner of our lives—there are countless mental triggers in today’s world. Multiple areas of our lives, and opinions from others overlap and collide, creating loops that continuously play in the conscious and subconscious minds of many people.
Not only are Paul’s words deeply relevant today, but it often feels as though they were written for the world we live in. And we can confidently say that it is just as impossible today as it was in Paul’s day to never feel anxiety. This is why understanding Scripture matters—and we must remember that all scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is everlasting. Our minds rarely pause to consider that we are living in a fallen world, but God has never lost sight of this reality. Through His Word, He reminds us of it, and offers trust and faith in Him as the remedy for the anxiety that entered our lives as a consequence of humanity’s fall from grace.
Paul is not suggesting that Christians—then or now—believe that it is possible to never feel anxiety. The epistles we read as part of the New Testament were individual letters written to young churches that were under constant pressure. they faced persecution from the government of Rome and Jews who had not converted, false teachings keeping the early church in constant confusion, modern medicine had not evolved so sickness and disease led to death more frequently, and the absence of structured law enforcement that left the vulnerable exposed—just as the poor and needy often are today. If anything, the early church had even more reason to be anxious than we do now.
Paul’s words echo Proverbs 3:5, which states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.” This is exactly what he urges through humble prayer with thanksgiving to God. When we become anxious about things within or beyond our control, we are leaning on our own understanding—which diminishes communion with God and dulls discernment of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The words in Proverbs 3:5 must be heard with the full weight they carry. Every word was chosen with precision and should not be taken lightly or out of context.
Oftentimes prayers are sent into the air without faithfulness to the Word or to the Father. “Help me Jesus” is often said as a cliché rather than from a trusting heart. It is often used in times of despair or imminent threat, not always by those who have patterned their walk after Jesus. Just as the term Christian has become loosely used, it does not always describe someone invested in following the ways of Jesus Christ and thinking like Him.
Scripture does not promise that following Jesus puts an end to affliction or despair. The conditions that cause stress and anxiety are born out of a fallen world, and all people, regardless of religious affiliation, will face them. The difference is how they affect each person, and how they choose to respond. Some become rooted in anger and bitterness. Others turn to drugs and alcohol as an escape that often leads to addiction. Many of these individuals may even consider themselves Christians, yet lack the prayer life, the walk with Christ, and the submission to the Holy Spirit that form a true relationship with God.
The Apostle James offers a unique perspective when he writes, “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials.” It feels unnatural to feel joy in seasons of affliction, yet James shows that trials carry a unique opportunity for spiritual growth. Hardships create the very circumstances where believers can learn to trust the Lord more deeply, sharpen their discernment, and experience the inner peace that only Jesus can give. This is how we build an intimate relationship with God, bring glory to His name in anxious moments, and become godly examples to those around us.