Anything & Everything

There is so much to worry about in our world today. SO MUCH STUFF! It’s not bad enough that we have to worry about all the traditional things like if we have enough food, whether we have enough money (or at least more than our neighbors), whether our family is safe, etc. Now we have to worry about whether Joey is going to make the traveling team. Don’t forget to worry about that crack in your smartphone screen which is inevitably going to appear. Oh, and with the daily news being broadcast from every conceivable device we need to worry about whether our government is going to shut down or start up or whatever else it is going to do. But wait, did you hear what happened to the fake family on reality TV last night? How could they? 

Anxiety has become such a norm in our society that we use it as entertainment. Our media moves us from our own personal worries to enjoy others’ worries. We are diverted by large screen anxiety through hyperFX movies that allow us to escape into universe sized worries! I am not sure this is the way it is supposed to be. It just does not seem that we were created to spend our days worrying about the life we lead, not to mention the lives of celebs and the rest. 

The Word of God exhorts us to “not be anxious about anything”. Now we know anxious means worry and anything means - anything (pretty much all inclusive). But notice the word between those two - “about”. About is an interesting word defined as meaning “concerning, in regard to” and “near, close to, around”. With that possible over examination let’s look at the exhortation again:

“do not be anxious about anything,...” Do not be anxious concerning anything. Do not have worry around any of the possible things that you could worry over. Simplified translation: Don’t Worry. 

Well, that is easier said than done. Come on. Don’t worry about anything? That is ridiculous! Only a God, one who has control over all things, could make such an exhortation. How can I not worry about things that can kill me and my loved ones? Hey, I am tasked with taking care of a family in this world that is going to hell. Don’t worry?!

Hang in there, we have only covered anything. The exhortation continues, going from good to better, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Let’s examine this part a little closer as well: 

We know that everything means - everything (pretty much all inclusive). But notice the next phrase, “by prayer and supplication”. The relationship of prayer and supplication to our requests is very interestingly outlined in this scripture. It is through our prayer and supplication that we let our “requests be made known to God”. Prayer in other words is the sacrifice, the worship, the communion through which we make our requests known to God. When we say we will pray about something, we are saying literally that we will meet with God on it. It is in the meeting that we present our requests to Him. We are exhorted to do this along “with thanksgiving”. Here is a very important point - when meeting with God bring some thanksgiving. 

Whenever we commune with God we need to make sure that thanksgiving is a part of it. There is so much for which we should be thankful; and as we thank Him for all He has done for us we begin the process of breaking down anxiety. How can worry stand when a heart realizes all that a gracious God has done for it? Once focused on God’s goodness we can properly address our requests to Him. Our thankfulness does not change the circumstances we face. But it does change the way we face our circumstances. That is what this exhortation is all about - right perspective. Instead of being anxious, commune with God. Be thankful to Him and make your request known to Him. 

There is an old and valid adage that God does indeed know what you need. So yea, He does know what you are going to ask before you ask it. But the asking is not for Him. It is for you. The Word of God tells us to speak out our requests to God not so that He can know them but rather so that you can know that He knows them. It is you who came to the meeting with anxiety after all. So bring your requests with thanksgiving to a meeting with God and let Him know.

Something marvelous happens when this is done.

Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."