Tag: Worry

Worry – Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Paul’s instruction here is remarkably direct. He does not deny that life brings real pressures or legitimate needs. Instead, he reframes how believers are to carry them. Anxiety is not addressed by denial or self-discipline, but by intentional dependence on God through prayer. What is striking is not simply the command to pray, but the posture with which prayer is to be offered—with thanksgiving.

Thankfulness changes the nature of prayer. Rather than approaching God as though He must be convinced to act, gratitude assumes His care and willingness from the outset. It says, “I am overwhelmed, but I trust You.” Prayer becomes less about persuading God and more about aligning the heart with the reality that He is already present, attentive, and sufficient.

Paul also links this kind of prayer to peace—not the absence of difficulty, but a peace that guards the inner life. The believer may not yet see resolution, but is no longer ruled by fear or restlessness. This peace is not manufactured; it is given. It comes from entrusting what cannot be controlled by us to the One who is in control.

The challenge, of course, is expectation. It is possible to pray out of habit or obligation while quietly assuming nothing will change. Paul’s words push against that instinct. Prayer offered with thanksgiving assumes God is doing something, evenbefore the outcome is known. It is an act of faith, not resignation.

This passage calls for more than bringing concerns to God—it calls for doing so with confidence in His character. When prayer is shaped by expectation rather than desperation, peace follows, even while answers are still unfolding.

Worry – Matthew 6:25–34

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Jesus is addressing worry in very practical terms. His original audience lived much closer to the natural world than we do. Birds, wildflowers, and field-grasses were not illustrations pulled from the margins of life. They were something that was a part of everyday survival. Hunger and clothing were real concerns, not abstract ones. Jesus does not deny those realities. Instead, he points out that worry does nothing to solve them. Trust in God is not presented as naïve optimism, but as the only response that actually makes sense in a world governed by a faithful Creator.

For me, the phrase “you of little faith” used to sound like a rebuke. Lately, I hear it differently. It may be less of an insult and more of an observation. My faith is often partial. I trust God, but I also hedge my bets with anxiety. The examples Jesus gives have no capacity for worry at all. Grass cannot relocate itself to better soil. Birds do not store away elaborate reserves. They exist within the limits God has given them, and they are sustained. Worry, on the other hand, adds nothing. As I once heard someone say, worrying about a problem is no more effective than trying to solve a math equation by chewing bubble gum.

What I need to do is hold planning and trust together without confusing them. God does not call me to be careless or irresponsible. Wisdom matters. Planning matters. But those things are not my safety net. God is. I do not have all the answers, resources, or ability to control outcomes. He does. Seeking his kingdom first puts everything else in the right order. When I remember who provides, I am freer to live faithfully instead of fearfully.