Anxious

Phil 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything."

Here is another scripture (like I spoke about in Yoda Grammar) where we so often just forget about the context that it was given in, and try to make it something we can do on our own.

Anxiety is a real thing. Very often it's not something that we can just turn off or get over. So how can God just casually tell us to not fear, to get over our anxious little selves?

Well, he doesn't. See, there are two key things that sandwich this "do not be anxious" in:

1. "The Lord is near."
2. "The peace of God will guard your hearts."

Let's break these two wonderful truths down.

The Lord of heaven and earth, the Maker of the universe, the Holder of the sun and stars, the Creator of life, he is near to you. He is near to you to keep you, protect you, love you and build you up. He is near, so why do you fear? 

It's his peace that guards our hearts. We don't have to muster up a fence around our hearts to protect ourselves from the worries of the world. Jesus has got you covered. His peace is knowing that God is sovereign and is always 100% in control. It's knowing that nothing takes God by surprise. It's knowing that his plan for you is perfect, and that he can and will turn all things for our good. As someone once said "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." His peace is living in that beautiful place of knowing. 

And the how? The how is to "in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Pray like cray! Pour out your heart to Jesus. Tell him your worries, your fears, your hopes and dreams. Like it says it Hosea 7, "They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds". How often do we moan and groan and complain to everyone around us, and forget that the Lord is near? He longs to hear your heart and your cries, in every situation. 

His peace is bigger than anything you could ever face. Do not fear. 

Cast your burdens onto Jesus because he cares for you. Do not fear.

The Lord is near. Do not fear.