Battling Anxiety
Robert Dawson
Philippians 4:6-9
Back in the 70s, the days of my childhood, Kenner toys developed and sold Stretch Armstrong. He was made of latex rubber and filled with some gel-like substance that allowed him to be stretched, twisted, and tied in knots. It brought joy to little boy's hearts everywhere to torment this little rubber man and test his limits.
Have you ever noticed how life has a way of treating us like little boys treated Stretch Armstrong? Life can stretch us to our breaking point and tying us up in knots.
When we are stretched to our limits by fear and tied up in knots because anxiety, how are we to respond? When we feel as if life is toying with us and tormenting us, what are we supposed to do?
In Philippians 4.4-9 Paul tells us how to respond when life has stretched us out and tied us in knots. He says, ''Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.''
These words were written to a group of believers facing internal challenges that threatened to disrupt the church. They were also experiencing the first waves of persecution's storm-surge, a storm that threatened to destroy the church. Not only that, but Paul, as he writes these words, is in prison with a possible death-sentence hanging over his head.
The command to rejoice, not to worry and to giv ...
Robert Dawson
Philippians 4:6-9
Back in the 70s, the days of my childhood, Kenner toys developed and sold Stretch Armstrong. He was made of latex rubber and filled with some gel-like substance that allowed him to be stretched, twisted, and tied in knots. It brought joy to little boy's hearts everywhere to torment this little rubber man and test his limits.
Have you ever noticed how life has a way of treating us like little boys treated Stretch Armstrong? Life can stretch us to our breaking point and tying us up in knots.
When we are stretched to our limits by fear and tied up in knots because anxiety, how are we to respond? When we feel as if life is toying with us and tormenting us, what are we supposed to do?
In Philippians 4.4-9 Paul tells us how to respond when life has stretched us out and tied us in knots. He says, ''Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.''
These words were written to a group of believers facing internal challenges that threatened to disrupt the church. They were also experiencing the first waves of persecution's storm-surge, a storm that threatened to destroy the church. Not only that, but Paul, as he writes these words, is in prison with a possible death-sentence hanging over his head.
The command to rejoice, not to worry and to giv ...
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