Hearts Guarded Against Anxiety
In “Zoe’s Hiding Place,” author David Powlison spins a tale about a little mouse named Zoe who gets anxious about field trips at school. It’s a fun little story, a fantastic model for wise and godly parenting, a helpful picture of real-world anxiety, and a clear outline of a gracious-biblical response to anxious thoughts. In short, Zoe is terrified of getting lost or left behind on a school field trip, something she knows from experience.
The Philippians likely never went on field trips at school. Still, Paul tells the Thessalonians that he suffered and was shamefully treated in Philippi (1 Thessalonians 2:2). When he was later imprisoned and the Philippians were concerned for his welfare, he encouraged them to “strive side by side for the faith of the gospel, not frightened in anything by your opponents” (Philippians 1:27-29).
And so, like Zoe and like many of us, the Philippians too had plenty of negative past experiences to fuel anxious worry. Paul addresses this spiritual burden in chapter four:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 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.” (Philippians 4:4–9, ESV)
There is a lot going on in this text! How does it all fit together? I think it all hinges on Paul steering the Philippians away from anxiety towards faith in God. Several observations help us see the picture more clearly.
First, Paul only gives one negative command— Did you see it? Here’s a list of the positive ones:
Rejoice,
Let it be known to all (your reasonableness),
Let them be known to God (your requests, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving),
Think about these things (true, honorable, just, pure, so on), and
Practice what Paul models.
But, in the middle of that beautiful instruction, there’s just one “thou shalt not:” Do not be anxious about anything.
Second, Paul gives us two results, two promises about what will happen if we do those things. He says, “The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds,” and “the God of peace will be with you.” Those outcomes are the opposite of anxious worry, are they not?
Third, the letter’s thrust so far has been all about true gospel partnership through adversity. Seeing anxiety as the lynchpin of this paragraph fits so well with the context around it because there’s plenty of adversity to worry about!
Once we can see an apostolic shepherd guiding a flock of sheep away from anxiety, the rest of the instructions fit together so well. Let me show you.
Tying it all together
What does rejoicing have to do with supplication? Thanksgiving with peace? Paul’s example with God’s support? Patterns of healthy thinking with conspicuous gentleness before others? Anxiety! Anxiety ties it all together. Let me rearrange the paragraph a bit, and you’ll see it:
When you’re anxious, you should…
Rejoice (don’t panic).
Be reasonable with others (don’t panic).
Remember that the Lord is near (don’t panic).
Pray (don’t panic).
Give thanks (it could be worse / it’s not that bad — don’t panic).
Think about good things (stop focusing on bad things— don’t panic).
Just try to simply follow Paul’s example (you can do this, don’t panic).
You know, that’s exactly what Zoe’s parents help her do in “Zoe’s Hiding Place.” When she prayed, asked God for help, and thought about good things… she had a lot of fun on the school field trip even though she walked through the valley of the shadow of death, getting lost and left behind just like last time.
May the God of peace grant that life in an anxious world be all the brighter with Him “at hand.”
… and rejoice!