The Truth Behind the Verse That Says “Don’t Be Anxious”
Written by Stephen Unwin, Australia
In our latest podcast interview we chatted to Stephen, a member of the Anxious Faith team who is also studying his PhD on the theology of gratitude. In the episode, Stephen spoke on Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” It’s a verse we often hear quoted in relation to mental health, but it’s one that’s often misunderstood or misused. We asked Stephen to share a little more on how he understands this verse, and what it’s actually saying to us.
The fridge magnet stared back at me: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and…” The journal cover on the shelf next to it chimed in: “Don’t be anxious, pray instead.”
That’s easy for you to say, I thought. Our first child was due in a couple of weeks, my wife and I were living (and still are!) in a country 17,000 km away from our families, and there’d been a few niggling medical concerns as our baby boy was growing in the womb. And there I was, standing in a Christian bookshop being lectured to by a fridge magnet and a journal cover to ‘not be anxious’.
I wonder if you’ve been there?
I’m sure we’ve all seen Philippians 4:6 plastered on a cosy-looking book cover or quoted in a talk at church or maybe even rattled off by a well-meaning friend when we’ve shared something we’re worried about: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Maybe we’ve even memorised it—the words do have a certain memorable rhythm to them. But if you’ve had those words spoken to you—whether by an inanimate object or an actual person—I wonder if they’ve always been what you needed to hear?
Of course, they are the words of the Bible so, in a sense, they speak truth and are meant to be helpful. But often, having random Bible verses plucked out of context and quoted to us isn’t helpful (for example, 2 Kings 9:20 probably isn’t a verse to share with a friend about to take their driving test; I’ll leave you to look it up!).
Quoting verses in isolation from their context often means losing the very meaning behind them, and this is especially true of Philippians 4:6. While many of us will probably know the first part of the verse, “Do not be anxious about anything”, do we know what comes after it? Or even what comes before it? By ripping these words out of the verse and slapping them on fridge magnets, we end up missing the intention (and the wonder) behind Paul’s words.
Why does Paul say not to worry? What does he mean? Over the years I’ve done a lot of searching into this verse, and why the “thanksgiving” that Paul speaks of later in the verse can make all the difference when life is hard or we’re feeling anxious. I’m currently studying for my PhD on the topic of gratitude as a Christian, so it’s a topic very close to my heart!
Paul Wasn’t a Hypocrite
To better understand the context behind Philippians 4:6, we can first look at the person writing Philippians; Paul. His encouragement to not be anxious isn’t written in a vacuum, and is instead profoundly shaped by his own life experience and the situation he finds himself in.
As he writes to the Philippians, Paul tells them he’s in some form of prison or house arrest because of his gospel ministry (Philippians 1:7, 1:13, 1:17). Based on the words he uses, it’s likely this was some kind of military prison. We also know that Paul didn’t have an easy time of it; since following Jesus he has been beaten repeatedly, whipped, imprisoned multiple times, pelted with stones, shipwrecked, stranded in the sea, hounded by crowds and has stared death in the face many, many times.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Paul knew what the depths of anxiety or despair felt like. I’m sure he knew the tracks where an anxious train of thought can lead. So how does he manage to say “Do not be anxious about anything”?
I don’t believe that Paul was a hypocrite, or that he was oblivious to the state of mind of the Philippians and the effect that his words might have on them; Philippians 1:7-11 shows us that he loves these people and wants the best for them. I also don’t think a man who has endured the stresses and strains that Paul experienced would tell others to not be anxious unless he really knew for himself the crippling effects of anxiety.
The words of Paul come from deep down in someone who has himself endured suffering and most probably profound mental stress, terror, and trauma. So when you hear his call to “not be anxious about anything”, don’t dismiss it as some Christian platitude; some nice phrase we say to one another. Paul gets it. He’s experienced anxiety himself, and he’s not saying, ‘just buck up, get over it’.
The Forgotten Verse
The words ‘do not’ are catchy and memorable, right? “Do not touch the oven.” “Do not play with matches.” “Do not put your shoes on the couch.” It’s why I think Philippians 4:6 is quoted so often on Christian products and in so many talks. It’s a memorable verse with a memorable, uplifting meaning.
The problem is that the few words that come immediately before this verse are nearly always left out:
“The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5). Isn’t it strange to leave out such comforting words?! “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything…” This is the very reason why Paul can say “Do not be anxious”.
Whatever we face, the Lord is near. We might not feel it at the time–we might not always believe it–but the Lord is near. As He promised the disciples, He will never leave or forsake us! (Matthew 28:20). “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). He might not take away what we’re facing or struggling through; that might not be His plan. But He promises to always be with us. The Lord is near!
This is why we can not be anxious; because the Lord is near. Next time you’re in a Christian bookshop, take that fridge magnet and scribble in ‘The Lord is near’ in front of “Do not be anxious” (with permission, of course).
“With Thanksgiving”
I’ve been studying the topic of gratitude for over 10 years. The more I dive into this subject, the more complexities I find. But however complex an idea it can be, I often come back to the simple image of a child who’s given a gift by someone and is encouraged to “go and say thank you”.
You see, gratitude always has a relational component. You might recall the story in the Bible of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus, but only one returned to thank him. That man seemed to grasp not only the grace of being healed, but the greater grace of the one who healed him (Luke 17:11-19).
When we feel grateful or when we try to ‘practise’ gratitude, it pulls us from ourselves, recognises the person to whom we are grateful, and draws us closer to them. Gratitude has been described like a glue that binds people together. I believe this is what Paul is getting at when he encourages us to not be anxious but to pray with thanksgiving. In doing so, we are pulled through our situation to look again at the Lord who is with us. And, with grateful hearts, we’re reminded of the Giver who is with us.
Just two verses earlier in Philippians 4:4, Paul exclaims:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Do you notice the direction that Paul points us in? He doesn’t point inwardly, telling us to rejoice in ourselves. And he doesn't say to rejoice in good circumstances, or that we should work up a feeling of joy even if we don’t feel like it. No. He says to rejoice in the Lord.
When we’re anxious, it’s natural for our focus to narrow to the concerns immediately in front of us. But gratitude offers us a new perspective. Gratitude is powerful because, by pulling our attention away from ourselves and focussing our eyes on God, we’re reminded that God is with us and that He is good. He’s the one who humbled Himself to death on a cross for us (Philippians 2:8), something we can always be grateful for.
What Comes Next?
As we’ve seen, we often forget to pay attention to the verse that comes before Philippians 4:6. So what about the one that comes after? Paul continues on in verse 7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
What is the effect of knowing that the Lord is near and of going to Him in thankful prayer? The peace of God will guard us. Do you notice the blend of metaphors that Paul uses here? God’s peace will guard us like soldiers guarding a military base–maybe even like the soldiers guarding Paul. Yet God’s soldiers are like peace-keeping soldiers, protecting our hearts and minds from the anxious thoughts that often plague us.
Often when we’re in the midst of poor mental health, it can be hard to ask for help; and the same goes with asking God for help. But He wants us to ask, “by prayer and petition” (Philippians 4:6), so that we realise our need for Him. By bringing our requests before Him, we’re showing humility in recognising who God is and that we are dependent on Him. He’s a good father, and He loves giving us good gifts (Matthew 7:11).
The next time you’re wrestling with anxiety and someone says “Don’t be anxious”, remember the context to this verse. We don’t have to be anxious or afraid because God is always near us. We can bring our prayers and requests before Him in gratitude, knowing that He is good and that He promises us peace which transcends all understanding.
I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of peace I want.
Stephen Unwin
Stephen Unwin is a writer and editor with Our Daily Bread Ministries. He has degrees in sound engineering and theology and is currently studying for a PhD on the theology of gift and gratitude. He’s married to Katy and they live in Melbourne, Australia.
