Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”– Philippians 4:6-7
Verses like this perfectly illustrate to me why the word of God is depicted as a sword (Eph. 6:10-18): it can be a powerful tool in the fight against the enemy, but can also hurt when wielded without great care.
I’ve seen the first portion of Phil. 4:6-7 all over social media. Countless photos of waterfalls that feature “Don’t be anxious” scribbled across in a trendy font… and I’ll be real, as somebody who frequently deals with anxiety, sometimes it can feel like more of an indictment than a reassurance. In an age where constant comparison is possible, when I see a person in ridiculously good shape striking a yoga pose with “no worries-Philippians 4:6-7,” in the caption, I look at my own life and ask “OK, Captain Yoga, am I a bad person because I’m still worrying?”
The answer: no, I’m not. I just haven’t been hearing the full verse. I have been allowing myself to get hung up on what I’m not supposed to be doing instead of what God is doing. I’ve let social media make my spiritual walk something that I can compare with others. And that’s not a good thing.
Maybe you’re like me. Maybe Instagram-able scriptures like this have been reduced to something a little icky. Maybe you need the full message-not the abbreviated version for Twitter.
Ditching the trendy graphic design for a minute, in this verse we are given the full rundown about a wonderful God that is offering true, all-encompassing peace over our anxiety. “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” breath, and let God know what is going on. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” He knows that you don’t understand why you’re going through this, but He is with you, and you have victory in this life through His son, Jesus. He is still guarding your heart even though you worry.
