The Cure (2): Anxiety

Be anxious in nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:6-7)

Peace that passes all understanding.  Peace as opposed to anxiety.  Peace vs. worry.  Peace when everything sCreAMs that no peace is possible.  Peace that no one watching from the outside can comprehend.  Doesn't that sound desirable?  I want that brand of peace!  I really do! 

Typically, my initial reaction (especially when I start living in the “what if’s”, or the “maybe’s”, and even the “what then’s”) is worry.  I don’t want to go there, but sometimes it’s hard for me to get out of my brain.  Ever have that problem?  Stuff of which worry is made cycles around and around and around, until it forms this whirlwind that unless stopped becomes a destructive tornado. 

However, peace isn’t some esoteric, abstract emotion.  It’s absolutely attainable. There is a way to stop the cycle. There is a door of escape in the brain. Paul’s key:  Prayer with thanksgiving brings peace unexplainable. 

The sage of Proverbs tells us the same thing. 

All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15.

Here’s what I learned as I looked further into the passage (Peg’s Paraphrase).  Those who have an unhealthy mindset will always cycle in wretchedness, but those who look for what is good, seek beauty, and discover the pleasing things in life, will find a banquet of delight.  As we dig deeply into our life, we find great good, incredible beauty, and amazingly pleasant pieces for which to be grateful. 

The cure to anxiety and worry:  prayer that begins with thanksgiving.