A Word from Bob: Welcome to Part 5 of a blog mini-series on The Gospel Where You 
Live: God’s Prescription for Victory In Anxiety. I’m taking these thoughts from my booklet, Anxiety: Anatomy and Cure. You can read:
- Part 1 at God’s Prescription for Victory In Anxiety
- Part 2 at Anxiety: Stuck Vigilance
- Part 3 at Anxiety: What Difference Does the Cross Make?
- Part 4 at Facing Anxiety Face-to-Face with Christ
Gospel-Centered Response # 1: Faith in Your Father—Guard Your Relationship to God Your Guard
Throughout Philippians, Paul weaves gospel-centered principles of the faith response to fear. Not surprisingly, he saturates his letter with encouragement to focus our hearts on faith in our Father: Philippians 1:2, 6, 7; 2:12-13, 15; 3:8-11, 15, 20-21; 4:4-7, 13, 19.
All of these passages speak to the reality that the believer has an eternally secure relationship with God by grace through faith in Christ. Martin Luther, who struggled with anxiety, noted that to deal effectively with life’s daily fears, we must first deal with life’s ultimate fear—separation from God (Hebrews 2:15). My ultimate anxiety is my fear that I will never find peace with God, never be accepted by God.
Luther, Paul, the author of Hebrews, and the Apostle John all understand the core gospel-centered “answer” to ultimate fear and anxiety. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
When I was working with Mike, we explored his relationship with Christ. He summarized the impact of our interactions.
“If we had only focused on my ‘earthly’ fears, we never would have hit the heart issue. When we started applying Romans 8 to my life, and the truth that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ and that nothing can separate a Christian from God, that launched me on a path toward defeating anxiety. With that BIG issue settled, every other fear—while not wiped away—fell into place, a place I could handle with Christ. I needed the calm assurance of my eternally secure relationship with the God of peace before I could even begin to experience the peace of God in my daily struggles.”
Gospel-Centered Response # 2: Renew Your Image of God
Paul further stresses our faith relationship to God in the immediate context of Philippians 4:6 by sandwiching around and slicing within the following images:
- The Lord is near (4:4)
- The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (4:6)
- The God of peace will be with you (4:9)
When anxiety strikes, we focus so much on the situation and our feelings that we lose focus on God, or we accept a skewed view of God. Paul helps us to counter that temptation by renewing our image of God. He is the God of peace Who loved us so much that He sent His Son to reconcile us back to Himself.
Paul’s words remind us of Peter. “Cast all your anxiety on him.” Why? “Because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Is that your image of God: that you matter to Him, that He cares for you? (see also Matthew 6:25-34)?
Paul’s words also remind us of Hebrews. “I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). Where’s our power to view life like that? “Because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
When we see God as our God of peace, then we can experience the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds. Robertson translates it beautifully: “Shall garrison. God’s peace as a sentinel mounts guard over our lives”
When Mike and I discussed this concept he almost jumped out of his chair.
“I don’t have to live an anxious, guarded life. I don’t have to guard myself or be self-protective. I don’t have to be self-focused—always stuck scanning my horizon fearfully. I can live an unguarded life because God is my Guard! I can protect others because God is my Protector! I can focus my energies on God and others because God is my Sentinel!”
Gospel-Centered Response # 3: Engage in Worshipful Prayer Focused on God’s Character
The word Paul uses for anxiety in Philippians 4:6 pictures being habitually and perpetually stuck in the abyss of worry about everything, being continually distracted by many cares that draw the mind in countless divided directions. Paul’s a realist, so he tells us how to stop living like that: seeing God as our Guard helps guard our soul against the attack of anxiety.
As a realist, Paul doesn’t just say what not to do. He tells us what to do instead. Instead of giving into anxiety’s attack, fight back through prayer. Paul chooses a word for prayer which highlights worshipful prayer focusing on God’s character. In anxiety, we choose a crippling focus on our circumstances. In worshipful prayer, we choose a healing focus on God’s character.
This God-focus is reminiscent of Isaiah 26:3. “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.” “Mind” is the Hebrew word for our imagination. It’s our ability to picture our world, to take snap-shot images that summarize our beliefs. Isaiah repeats “shalom” twice to communicate perfect peace, complete wholeness. We’ll experience shalom shalom when we focus our imagination faithfully on our faithful Father.
When we are feeling anxious, God speaks to us and says:
“I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you by my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:9-10).
When we anxiously fear spiritual separation anxiety, we must focus on our image of God Who is our faithful Father Who promises to forever love us in Christ.
Gospel-Centered Response # 4: Open Your Palms to God
So far we’ve only look at one word—prayer—in the litany of counsel that Paul gives us about what to do instead of giving into anxiety. He also urges us to relate to God through petition, thanksgiving, and requests.
When worry strikes, we’re to approach God our fatherly Guide with petitions—asking God urgently, specifically, and vulnerably to handle what we’re worry about, to supply our daily bread. In this spirit we present our requests to God. Paul pictures us asking God humbly, submissively, and trustingly.
Remember the musical Oliver? The poor orphan boy, Oliver, breaks the rules of the orphanage by daring to ask, “Please, Sir, may I have some more?” With both palms open wide and arms extended, Oliver lifts his empty bowl of soup heavenward. When anxiety attacks, attack back with trusting, humble asking.
“Father, I’m overwhelmed. I see no way out. I feel like I’m starved of resources. My bowl of soup is empty, my gas dank is on E, my resources are depleted. Rather than trusting in me, I’m clinging to You. I’m feeble. You’re Almighty. I refuse to rely upon myself. I choose to rely upon You.”
Gospel-Centered Response # 5: See God as a Rewarder, Not a Hoarder
We’re to pray and petition our faithful Father with thanksgiving. The Greek is eucharistias from which we glean our word Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper. It means gratefulness and gratitude in recognition of the gracious goodness of another. When life stinks, our perspective shrinks. When worry assaults, all looks negative, dark, hopeless.
In response, Paul says, “Don’t stand there stuck in the muck of stinkin’ thinkin’ and shrinking thinking! Courageously choose thankfulness because you believe God is a Rewarder, not a Hoarder (see Hebrews 11:6). Choose to remember that God is for you and not against you (see Romans 8:31-35). Choose courageous trust.”
The Rest of the Story
Do you have to face your fears alone? Never! God will never leave you or forsake. And, Christ gives us the people of God to journey with us as we face our fears. Join us in Part 6 as we ponder: It Takes a Congregation.
Applying the Gospel to Your Daily Life
Ponder an anxiety-producing situation you are currently facing. What specific application could you make using each of these five principles:
- Faith in Your Father
- Renew Your Image of God
- Engage in Worshipful Prayer Focused on God’s Character
- Open Your Palms to God
- See God as a Rewarder, Not a Hoarder
Tweet It
5 Gospel-Centered Responses to Anxiety, Fear, and Worry: http://bit.ly/Gospel4Anx5
Martin Luther noted that to deal effectively with life’s daily fears, we must first deal with life’s ultimate fear—separation from God. http://bit.ly/Gospel4Anx5
When we see God as our God of peace, then we can experience the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds. http://bit.ly/Gospel4Anx5
Seeing God as our Guard helps guard our soul against the attack of anxiety. http://bit.ly/Gospel4Anx5
In anxiety, we choose a crippling focus on our circumstances. In worshipful prayer, we choose a healing focus on God’s character. http://bit.ly/Gospel4Anx5
