“The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:5b-6

Anxiety affects nearly 40 million Americans through a myriad of symptoms. Anxiety is defined as “a state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.” At some point in life everyone will deal with anxiousness in one form or another. But there is hope! You don’t have to live controlled by anxiety.

Anxiety is produced when circumstances overload our sense of control over a potential situation or event.

Maybe you’ve been hit with an unexpected financial hardship?

Maybe your department at work is being shutdown?

Maybe there are circumstances beyond your control and you fear the potential effects on your life or your family.

Periodically when one of my sons would wake up in the middle of the night with a nightmare and call out I would go to their room and see what was wrong. I would reassure them that I was here and that as long as “dad” was in the house no harm would come to them. My reassuring words comforted them and enabled them to go right back to sleep.

“The Lord is at hand.”

Paul is reassuring us that no matter the circumstances we are facing, God is with us and will enable us to overcome. In my own experience, some of my anxieties have been the result of possibilities that never materialized. I became fearful of the “what if” and was swallowed up by my anxious thoughts.

Anxiousness takes our focus off of God and His promises and puts them on our inability, limitations or lack of experience to deal with a specific situation. Paul gives us a remedy for anxiousness and when applied on a consistent basis will fend off future anxiety attacks.

“in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving is God’s antidote to anxiety. It’s not simply prayer or thanksgiving but prayer with thanksgiving. Prayer redirects our focus from our inability to God’s all-surpassing ability to supply all our needs. Supplication is the humble approach to God as the one who hears us. Prayer and thanksgiving together is a double declaration of our trust in God.

Pray from a confident position by giving thanks to God before you receive your answer.

Give thanks to God as your;

Healer before you receive your healing Psalm 103:3, 

Provider before you receive your provision Matt. 6:25-33, 

Rewarder before you receive your reward Hebrews 11:6, 

Reconciler before your relationships are fully reconciled 2 Corinthians 5:18,

Deliverer before you receive your deliverance Psalm 18:2. 

Don’t simply treat the symptoms of anxiety but completely remove the roots from spoiling the promises of God in your life. No matter what you are facing, with prayer and thanksgiving, God is more than able to meet your needs.