Finding Peace in an Anxious World
Though anxiety surrounds us at every level—personally, nationally, and globally—God’s Word shows us a path to contentment, joy, and lasting peace.
Not long ago, a book titled The Anxious Generation climbed The New York Times Best Sellers list. It outlined the growing concern over anxiety in today’s youth. Even though times are not as bad as during World War I or World War II, experts in sociology, psychology, and psychiatry agree that this generation is experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety.
The author argues that our phones are contributing factors. Constant exposure to others’ curated lives leads us to fall into the habit of comparison. This cycle has led to feelings of discontent and a lack of peace. This lack of peace makes it harder to feel grateful, which in turn leads to a sense of anxiety and despair.
Anxiety in Today’s World
Yet even globally, the world is not at peace. If we turn on the news, there is devastation in Ukraine with bombed-out buildings. Throughout Africa, there are tribal conflicts and ongoing persecution of Christians. We are also witnessing what is happening in Israel and Gaza, and now the war in Iran. There are wars and rumors of wars on a global scale.
Across the country, there is division between Conservatives and Liberals, between the Left and the Right. Never in all my life have I seen such division in politics, with the animus and vitriol against one another. At the same time, there is conflict and anxiety on the family level. Married couples are dealing with tension and strife in their homes. Families are coping with loved ones who are sick. Many can’t seem to find peace from all these overlapping pressures.
In our personal lives, we all encounter events or circumstances that can create anxiety. For some, these challenges involve children, marriage, finances, or a general sense of dissatisfaction. At times, we may feel our lives haven’t measured up to what we had hoped for. It can be hard to feel grateful when there is a wide gap between our expectations and our reality.
The Bible teaches that for those who don’t know God, there is no peace. There may be temporary peace or a cessation of difficulty, but when the next challenge comes, the unrest returns and grows. Lasting peace is found only in Christ.
Without God’s peace, people often look for other ways to cope with anxiety, such as turning to aggression. This is an attempt to regain control, but they only end up feeling shame and regret, adding self-condemnation instead of relief. Others try to escape anxiety through avoidance, shutting out the noise of life through television, video games, excessive sleep, or by turning to addictions such as alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana. Some even seek comfort in food to soothe dissatisfaction with themselves or fear of their future. Yet none of these brings lasting peace.
People also try to overcome anxiety by adding more to their lives: more responsibility, more money, more prestige, or more followers on social media. There’s a familiar saying: “We may spend our whole life climbing the ladder of success, only to find when we get to the top that our ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” How often do we place our trust and hope in things that ultimately cannot strengthen us?
Rejoicing When We Have Problems
Yet there is good news for this anxiety problem. The Bible addresses anxiety and worry, and one of its greatest solutions is found in Philippians 4, where Paul begins by saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:3, ESV).
Now, when Paul says rejoice, he’s rejoicing during a time of great sorrow and problems. In the previous chapters, Paul describes circumstances in his life that were causing him anxiety and grief, calling them “sorrow upon sorrow” (Philippians 2:27). He had been beaten and shipwrecked, enduring one personal trial after another. His sorrow also stemmed from those he described as “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). And he also grieved over the conflict and lack of peace within the church (see Philippians 4:1-3).
Many of us celebrate once our problems are resolved, but how often do we rejoice in the midst of them or even at the start? Those who have walked with God over time learn how foolish it is not to trust him. We know that worry will not solve our anxiety or fear, yet we often go back to it. Still, anxiety should not define a Christian’s life because God will either remove what is afflicting us or he will give us the strength to remain faithful and joyful through it.
After Paul says, “Rejoice,” he continues: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. …And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-13, 19, my emphasis).
Nothing & Everything
To understand what Paul is saying, picture two buckets. One holds all our anxieties: personal, national, and global. This is where our inner lack of peace circles, producing fear, doubt, and even physical ailments. But Paul reminds us, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:5-6). It’s like a sandwich: the joy of the Lord on one side, our anxiety in the middle, and gratitude on the other. Paul is showing us that joy and thanksgiving are the antidote for an anxious heart. We are to come to God in prayer and supplication, laying our burdens before him, but with gratitude and trust.
Often when I feel anxious, the issue isn’t about my circumstances but my lack of trust in God. In those moments, my prayer should be, “God, forgive me for not trusting you.” When I begin to place my trust in him, my whole perspective starts to change.
“Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6). In other words, “I’m anxious about nothing.” Can you imagine the joy and gratitude in your life if your first “bucket” were empty? There may still be challenges like marital tension, financial stress, or other struggles, but if anxiety is no longer filling that space, it’s because it’s been transferred to the second bucket: the “everything” bucket.
How do we move all our anxiety from the first bucket into the second? We do it by recalling Paul’s words, choosing to rejoice despite our circumstances, and offering thanks through prayer. Then we begin to pray with gratitude, “Lord, I thank you that you will heal my marriage,” or “Lord, I trust you with my finances.” Gradually, we experience freedom from fear, anxiety, and stress.
In these verses, Paul offers us hope that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can transfer the burdens in our lives into the other “bucket” through prayer and thanksgiving. As we do this, we begin to move in faith and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). From there, our thoughts are directed toward what is honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. The Holy Spirit guards our hearts, and Christ protects our minds and emotions from being overwhelmed with anxiety.
Peace and Contentment
When we empty our “bucket” and give God everything, we then receive contentment and the peace of God. In Philippians 4:9, Paul says, “The God of peace will be with you.” Paul switches the words so that not only are we given the peace of God, but we know the God of peace. One is an element of God given to us, and the other is God himself. He is our peace. He is our righteousness, our joy, and our heart of thanksgiving. If we don’t have God, we won’t have peace. And he offers us a peace “which surpasses all understanding.”
Paul writes, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things” (Philippians 4:9). Anxiety is not simply cast out or instantly delivered; rather, it is something we learn to overcome by growing in gratitude rather than fear. When Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” he meant in times when life wasn’t going as planned. God may bring us out of difficult circumstances and into new opportunities. But if we cannot learn contentment in hardship, we won’t be content in better times because contentment is ultimately a matter of the heart. It comes from receiving the peace of God and walking with the God of peace. True contentment is not only about when our circumstances change, but about who we are in the midst of them.
Many Christians find themselves asking, “Why haven’t you brought me out of this, God? Why am I not being delivered?” Yet God wants to give us joy in the middle of the storm. He wants us to experience peace in the valley and to hold on to hope when all seems hopeless.
Today is an invitation to empty the bucket of anxiety and give everything to God. Don’t wait for your circumstances to change before you trust him—trust him now! Yes, God still works miracles, signs, and wonders, and great things may still happen in your future, but even now, choose to praise him. Choose contentment. Choose gratitude. Let his peace replace your fear and anxiety. And like Paul, ask God to guard your heart and mind in the very places where you are struggling.
Remember that God surrounds us with mercy in the midst of our trials. You may be facing many afflictions right now. But even if you only had one great mercy, that mercy—the greatest mercy of all—is that apart from Christ, we are sinners, lost, and without hope in an anxious world. Jesus came from heaven to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross so that we might be reconciled to God. It’s through Jesus’s shed blood that we have reason to give thanks.
One day, every anxiety and affliction of this life will fade from memory in the glory of heaven. No amount of suffering will ever compare to the single power of the redeeming love of Jesus. If he never did another thing for me and the rest of my life was full of afflictions, I have been given far more mercy than hardship because I have peace with God. Because our redeemer lives, we can face every circumstance with gratitude, peace, and contentment. Amen ▉
