PHILIPPIANS AND STRESS: CHOOSE NOT BE ANXIOUS—Philippians 4:4-9
***Project on the screen a hand-written note: “Dear stress, Let’s break up.” If only it were that simple!**
The Apostle Paul was writing the letter to the Philippians from prison, or perhaps house arrest. It had to be a stressful situation. Yet in Philippians 4:13, he says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Paul was eager to share what he had learned through hard experience.
So he says in Philippians 4:6, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything…”
Can we choose to rejoice always? Can we choose not to be anxious?
Of course, there are some people who are plagued with a clinical case of anxiety, perhaps a chemical imbalance, or something deeper. There is no shame in seeking professional help, or benefitting from prescription drugs, as well counseling. But for most of us, including himself in his stressful circumstances, he says, “Do not be anxious…”
Instead, “Rejoice in the Lord.” Choose to rejoice.
***The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, who lived in a very stressful time, wrote a poem about choosing to rejoice. Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I WILL REJOICE in the LORD, I WILL BE JOYFUL in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”**
While we may not be able to choose what happens TO US, we can choose what happens WITH US.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO PRAY
Read Philippians 4:4-7.
Prayer is an alternative to worry, fear, or anxiety.
When Jesus was anxious, what did he do? Matthew 26:37-39 tells us, “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”
When anxiety overwhelms us, prayer may be the last thing on our minds. If our plate is full, we might feel like we don’t have time. We want to DO something, so we run around being busy. Yet prayer settles our minds, and allows God to guide us to peace.
How should we pray? Paul tells us.
“By prayer and petition….present your requests to God.” Worrying on your knees is not prayer, and it doesn’t help! (How many times have you done that?) We should ask God to change the situation, or to change us. We should get down to business: What do I want, and what do I need? (not always the same) What might God want for the people I care about? Maybe even write it out.
“…with thanksgiving…” This is not foolish, like saying, “Thank you, God, that my life stinks and evil is winning.” It is more like, “Thank you, God, that I can trust you with my life, and you can use bad things to work for the good.” And don’t forget to thank God for the good things. You may have lost your job, but not your health. You may have lost your health, but not your family. You may have lost your friends but not your character.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Prayer is not only asking, and even more than thanking God. Prayer is finding peace in God.
***When our daughter was 4 years old, she came home from Sunday School with a profound bit of wisdom: “Sometimes you don’t have to ask God for anything. Sometimes you just want to talk to him.”**
Prayer is talking to God, our Father, who is really there, who loves and cares for us. Just talking with him can make a huge difference. Our heart and mind are changed, and the Spirit of Christ brings peace.
We can choose to pray.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO FILL OUR MINDS WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS
Philippians 4:8, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
This is not unrealistic mind-manipulation. It is choosing our perspective.
Our minds are always filled with something. When we are stressed, our mind can be flooded with all kinds of irrational or unhealthy thoughts. If we can fill our minds with good things, there will be less room for the bad. Paul has a list of good things:
“Whatever is true…” What is true? God loves you, God has a plan for your life, and God will never leave you. Tomorrow is another day, and the future is in God’s hands. In the end, all things work together for good, to those who belong to Christ.
“…whatever is noble…” We could focus on what is wrong: the injustice of the situation at work, the people who don’t like us, or scary events in the world. Rise above that! Rejoice in the God who stands for justice and truth. See people as God sees them: hurting, confused, even oppressed by evil. Give people the benefit of the doubt, forgive when necessary, and let go of your right to judge.
“…whatever is right…whatever is pure…”
***In an email, I got this stress-management tip: “Picture yourself very near a stream. Birds are softly chirping in the crisp, cool mountain air. No one knows this secret place, and nothing can bother you here. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with cascade of serenity. The cool water is crystal clear. You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you are holding under the water…….There now, don’t you feel better?**
Wrong thoughts and impure thoughts only make things worse. Think about what is right, and what God would have you do. Purify the way you look at people, and the hopes that you have.
‘’…Whatever is lovely…admirable…excellent…praiseworthy—think about such things.” It is easy to obsess about what is wrong with people, but what is good about them? We can be troubled by events in the world, but what is good about the world? Are there heroes we respect, friends we appreciate, good deeds done in integrity and love? We can fill our minds with those things.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE
***In one study of people under stress, 70% admitted that a doctor had recommended lifestyle or behavioral changes that they had not made. They were choosing not to reduce their stress!**
Paul says in verse 9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Put it into practice. Specifically:
-Live in light of the gospel. Confess your sins often and honestly; keep short accounts with God. Accept forgiveness in Christ; really believe, and celebrate God’s grace. Pass on God’s grace to others; forgive and encourage others.
-Live as God commands.
Living by the Ten Commandments can protect us from a lot of stress.
Tell the truth, and you won’t have to remember what your story was, or the lies you told.
Don’t steal or cheat, and you won’t have to worry about being caught.
Don’t commit adultery, and avoid inevitable stress.
Don’t covet, and be infinitely more content with your life.
Observe the principle of the Sabbath, by rest and worship, and stress will dissipate.
Going beyond the Ten Commandments, practice what Jesus commanded (in the Sermon on the Mount, for example): Deal with anger before you go to bed. Don’t judge; leave judging and vengeance to God. Forgive freely. Don’t try to accumulate treasure on earth. Deal with conflict directly. There are so many other things Jesus said, that can help us.
If your stress level is high, try this for the next week or more: Each day, open your Bible to the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5-7. Each day, read the Beatitudes, that begin the sermon, and meditate on what Jesus is telling you. Then take a section from the next chapters, and think about how you can do what Jesus tells you to do. I think there is a good chance that your stress level will go down!
-Invest in the kingdom of God.
That might sound like more stress! But stress does not come from over-commitment, but unwise commitments. In the kingdom of God, we make wise commitments to seek God’s best for ourselves and others.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
When we seek the kingdom of God, we are focused on kingdom priorities. Our lives have direction and meaning, lessening the anxiety of a life without direction or purpose. We have the satisfaction of spending our time and efforts on things that matter. In the end, we know that nothing we do for God and his kingdom is empty or in vain.
How can we overcome anxiety? Pray. Obey. Invest in God’s kingdom. When we do so, anxiety will give way to trust, and the weight of stress will give way to the joy of our Savior.
Let’s read it again, so we can remember: (Read Philippians 4:4-9)
