Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Fear is not always an overwhelming feeling of terror. Fear also expresses itself as anxiety or constant, low-grade worry.
As a paramedic working in the hospital years ago, I remember seeing a mother bring her daughter to see the doctor weekly—sometimes daily! This woman lived in constant anxiety over the possibility that something was wrong with her child. Unfortunately, over time I noticed the young girl develop her mom’s same fearful attitude.
So many people grow up in anxious families or with a worry-filled parent. They don’t know what it is like to experience God’s peace, but this doesn’t need to be the case.
Fear doesn’t come from God (2 Timothy 1:7). We serve a loving God who tells us repeatedly not to worry or be afraid. (Joshua 1:9, Matthew 6:34, John 14:27.) Why? Because He knows that fear involves torment and will cloud our ability to hope or think clearly (1 John 4:18).
Today’s verse gives us instructions on how to combat worry—pray. Talk to God about what’s chewing away at your peace. Instead of worrying, “Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6). The more we focus on how thankful we are for God’s love and grace, the more room we make for God’s supernatural peace to rest on our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7.)
Don’t allow worry to be your “normal setting.” Squash fear when it tries to take hold by speaking God’s promises of protection, peace and wisdom. Talk to God, give thanks to Him and stand in faith that He is always working out everything for your best (Romans 8:28).