Antidote to Anxiety

Did you know that Amazon (and Kindle) publish a report of the most digitally highlighted verse of Scripture in the Bible—and the “winner” might surprise you? It’s not John 3:16, which speaks of God’s great love, or Jeremiah 29:11, which talks about God’s good plans.

The most highlighted verse is Philippians 4:6-7, which says:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I think I know why this verse gets so much attention—it holds what I like to call the “Antidote to Anxiety!” Paul starts by telling us not to worry about anything… which, honestly, can seem impossible. Don’t worry about anything? Not my job? My family? That doctor’s report? How did Paul expect us to stop worrying altogether?

The truth is, Paul wasn’t just telling us, “Don’t worry, be happy!” He wasn’t giving us bumper sticker theology or a quick fix. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, you already know—it takes more than positive thinking to make it through. You need a real strategy. You need a weapon. And that weapon is prayer, which is exactly what Paul instructs us to do in these verses. Pray.

But maybe you’re wondering, “That sounds great, but how do I pray when I’m so overwhelmed with worry, fears, and doubt?” Paul’s answer is simple but powerful: take the very thing you’re worried about and turn it into a prayer.

So if you’re worried about your kids—or a situation in your family—bring that to God in prayer:
“God, I bring you my kids today—you know what they’re going through. You know all about this situation that’s keeping me up at night—so I ask you to get in the middle of this problem. Give us your direction and your peace.”

If you’re facing a financial challenge—don’t just worry about it—pray about it. Tell God exactly what you need. Paul promises that when we do, we will experience God’s peace.

And here’s the best part—God’s peace is unlike anything this world can offer. It’s better than a day at the beach or a round of golf. It’s a peace that goes deep in your soul—because you know the One who holds all things together.

God promises in Jeremiah 29:13 that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. And when we find Him, we find peace—because peace isn’t just what God gives; it’s who He is.

That’s why prayer is the antidote to our anxiety. Prayer carries us into God’s presence—and in His presence, we find what Paul described as a peace that “exceeds anything we can comprehend or understand.”

Let me take a moment to pray for you:
God, I pray for my friends reading this today who might be facing overwhelming challenges—help them to turn their worries into prayers and walk in the peace that only You can give. We trust You, Lord—Amen.

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