Prayer Instead of Panic

Paul wrote from prison, so his advice about anxiety is not naive. Do not be anxious about anything, he says, but in everything bring your requests to God with thanksgiving. He does not say to pretend you have no worries; he says to move them, one by one, from your mind into prayer. The promise in Philippians 4:7 is a peace that goes beyond understanding and stands guard over hearts and minds, like a sentry at a gate. Notice that peace is not the same as solving the problem. It is protection in the middle of it. Thanksgiving matters too, because remembering past help changes how we face the present. If anxiety is heavy and persistent, praying and also seeing a counselor or doctor go hand in hand. Today, turn each worry into a short sentence of prayer, and add one thing you are thankful for.