Young People's Group

Learning to Deal with Anxiety Thoroughly

by Mitchell Tan
March 14, 2019

PRAYING AND PONDERING GO TOGETHER

In life and ministry, there will be moments when feelings of fear and anxiety would be felt. It is important that such anxieties must be dealt with in a thorough manner. This was something that Paul sought to challenge the Philippians to do. The first thing he got them to work on was to cease from worrying and to start praying.

1. LEARNING TO PRAY IN THE RIGHT MANNER

“Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

Paul challenged the Philippians to learn to pray about everything that they go through. There was no problem that was so great that the Philippians cannot pray about. They were to make known their prayers to God in faith. They were to pray with depth and with thanksgiving. In everything, they were to give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When they pray as such, the peace of God will guard their heart and mind. The word “guard” in Greek has the idea of defending the mind like the military watches a city. His peace will protect our minds and hearts.

2. LEARNING TO PONDER ON THE RIGHT THINGS

“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.”
Philippians 4:8

On one hand, the Lord will answer our prayers by giving His peace to guard our minds. On the other hand, we also need to do our part by pondering on the right things. The word “meditate” in Greek means to “think logically”. It is to muse and to reason through things and to continue to do so vigorously. We are to reject all false and wrong ideas.

A. SATURATING THE MIND WITH THE RIGHT THINGS

Paul wrote this verse as such so that the Philippians would saturate their minds with the right things. Their thoughts must be based on the truth of God’s word. They were to meditate on the things that are noble or honourable, righteous, pure, pleasing and well reported of. If these things are truly virtuous and praiseworthy, they are to be thought through and reflected over carefully. These things would be the truths and principles that they had learnt from Paul and from the Scriptures.

B. DISPELLING ALL THINGS THAT CAUSE ANXIETY

When we saturate our minds with things of the truth and of the Lord, there is lesser risk to think of negative things. The Lord’s peace will continue to guard our mind and heart. Meditating on the right things will help us form a strong mindset that would help us see things in a positive light.

THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL IN PRAYING AND PONDERING ON THE RIGHT THINGS

The apostle Paul would be a good example of one who prayed and pondered on the right things. He constantly prayed for the Philippians and gave thanks for them (Philippians 1:3). When there were not so good things that happened to him, he still dwelt on the things that were true and good. He saw how his incarceration had turned out for the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 1:12). There were those who sought to preach Christ for selfish ambition and sought to add suffering to his affliction. Yet, Paul chose to dwell on the fact that Christ is preached and in this he rejoiced. He exemplified having a strong and upbeat mindset. Young people, let’s learn to set aside all our anxieties and seek to focus on the Lord and His word. Let’s learn to pray and ponder on the right things as Paul taught.

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