“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” — Arthur Somers Roche
According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is more often than not a healthy and normal reaction to stress. God created His people to primarily experience good, healthy, and natural stress (eustress). This is the stress we feel when excited, exhilarated, or energized (e.g. word of a promotion, seeing a loved one after a long period of separation, or safely landing after jumping out of a perfectly good airplane). God’s stress is one that causes our heart rates to quicken and hormones to be released, leading to feelings of euphoria. God’s stress is good, healthy, and natural stress!
Unfortunately, not all stress is good. There are two types of bad stress – acute and chronic stress. Acute stress is not bad by itself, and God did create us with the ability to experience acute stress for our own good. This is the stress that produces a quick response (a “start”) that then creates the need for an immediate response. Acute stress is good in that it can keep us safe from danger – fight or flight. Please hear me when I say, “What God did not create us for is that stress/anxiety to stay in place for prolonged periods of time. Why? Because that “bad” stress can then become chronic and destructive.
One of my favorite passages that addresses the topic of stress/anxiety is Philippians 4:6-8. Why? Because there is an easy application of the passage? Absolutely not! It is my favorite because the Apostle Paul gives what I believe is the antidote to chronic and destructive stress.
This passage is formulaic in nature, and it can easily be broken into three primary parts: 1) God’s Challenging Expectations; 2) God’s Eternal Promise; 3) God’s Ongoing Encouragement.
First, what does God expect from us? In verse 6, Paul says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God;” In this verse alone, God expects three things from us: 1) God expects us not to be stressed/anxious over things we have NO control over in this life. Please hear me when I say, “Paul knew what he was talking about here.” At the time of the writing of this letter (approximately 60 AD), Paul was under house arrest in Rome. He was facing an impending trial that could end in acquittal or death. And Paul knew the Church was facing persecution under the Emperor Nero (google Nero and the early church – not a pleasant picture). Every one of these were “anxiety causing” situations; 2) God expects us to pray. Not only does He expect us to pray, but He expects us to pray repeatedly (supplication means repeated prayers); 3) He expects us to maintain a “thankful” and “humble” heart regardless of the situation. USACE, as I said above, THIS IS A CHALLENGING FORMULA!!
Second, what is God’s promise to us? In verse 7, Paul says: “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God’s promise to you is that if you remain calm, and pray with a thankful/humble heart, that He will provide his peace through the power of Jesus Christ (Resurrection Power). There are two important points here: 1) The origin of this peace is supernatural. “Super”natural mean it goes
beyond the standard laws and rules of nature. This peace is neither of this world, nor can it be attained by anything in this world. The power of this peace comes from our faith in God (for further study read Hebrews 11 – Faith’s Hall of Heroes); 2) The power of this supernatural peace is that it has the ability to defeat the negative effects of stress. Always remember that our God is greater (1 John 4:4), and God has foreordained us for eternal victory, regardless of our present circumstances (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:19 – we are citizens of an eternal kingdom).
Third, what is God’s ongoing encouragement to us? It is all about mindset. In verse 8, Paul says: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” In one of my previous thoughts, I used Isaiah 26:3 – God keeps His children in perfect peace when their minds are meditating on Him.
USACE, we are living in challenging times. I have said it repeatedly, and I will say it again, I have read your emails. I know that the COVID-19 virus is producing high rates of chronic stress (negative anxiety) within our ranks and our families. Please know that God both sees us and hears our prayers. Always remember that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person produces results” (James 5:16). He cares for you, does not want to see you stressed, and He will provide you with His peace. Please pray for me, and I will be praying for you!!
Blessings,
Chaplain Brad Baumann