Name: Navigating Anxiety
Price: 12 USD

Philippians 4:5b-7
5 The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Start this passage on anxiety beginning at Verse 5 - The Lord is near. Example of Joshua's anxiety about taking over the leadership from Moses. God says to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God comforts him and encourages him to move forward by reminding Joshua that He is with him. John 14:17 - Jesus makes the promise of the Holy Spirit being with us. In John 15 after giving his disciples a heads up that he is about to depart from them to be with his father, he comforts them with these words in verse 18: “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” The “I” that He is coming to them as if the Holy Spirit and Jesus explain that this is better because the Spirit is going to live inside of them. Pray that the Lord opens our eyes to the awareness of your presence that is already with us.

The Lord is Near to the Anxious

Navigating Anxiety - Philippians 4:5

Yana Conner initiates this course on Navigating Anxiety with a reference from Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Prayer is an essential tool in the toolbox of navigating anxiety. Like the screwdriver, it needs to be the tool you use the most. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is one of my favorite hymns and every time I sing it there’s this one line that always brings my singing to a halt. It goes: Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer So instead of pushing that anxiety aside - just stop right now and pray.

Prayer for the Anxious

Navigating Anxiety - Philippians 4:6

Friend, what peace are you forfeiting…what needless pain are you bearing all because you will not carry everything to God in prayer?

Philippians 4:6
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Isn’t that interesting “be thankful” is the most recorded command in the Bible. In Philippians 4:4-6, Paul prescribes thankfulness for the anxious heart and it makes sense to me. When anxiety attacks, stop and give thanks to the LORD. At the end of the day, I review all the things that the LORD helped me calm my fears. Instead, remember the good aspects of past relationships. Scavengers hunt to discover the ways that God shows up for them. Causes us to settle Instead of being in Fear and not being able to be in control. God shows up for us. Providence: The foreseeing care and guidance of God over the creatures of the earth. (See Gen. 22:7-8; 50:20; 1 Kings 17:7-6; Matthew 6:25-27, 17:27; Romans 8:28)

Counteracting Anxiety

Navigating Anxiety - Philippians 4:6b

How often do you take stock of all the things you are thankful for? Thanksgiving serves as a crucial counter to anxiety.

Philippians 4:7-9
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

At its core, anxiety is a preoccupation with the future, but instead of it dreaming up the best future possible...it dreams up the worst future possible. I like to call it the spiral. It's when one worst-case scenario builds on another worst-case scenario and another and another. It can be debilitating. Not only to the mind but the body as well. It's an intrusive emotion. Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:8 to meditate on what is true, Whatever is noble, Whatever is right, Whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, Whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. But, you know there’s another side to those what-ifs… Like, what if I make the right decision? I why would I assume that I would make a bad one. Psalm 37: 23-24 says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though the person may stumble (in finding a way), they will not fall, for the Lord upholds them with His right hand.

Thoughts for the Anxious

Navigating Anxiety - Philippians 4:8-9

Anxious thoughts are often left unchecked. Drawing inspiration from Philippians 4:8-9, Yana encourages that we must focus on things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy."." 

Philippians 4:11-12
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

But here is it Paul is saying he has learned to be content whether he is hungry or well-fed...whether he’s got money in the bank or not...whether he is in chains or free. Yes, chains or free. At the time that he wrote this letter, Paul is locked up for preaching the gospel. Paul had the right to be anxious Paul is content. He has completely accepted the situation. This leads up to our last tool for navigating anxiety - acceptance. You see, contentment is a form of acceptance. And in this moment of being locked up, Paul could be very anxious. Anxious about whether or not he will be set free or killed. However, he’s content. He realizes that he is not in control and has completely entrusted his life to the Lord. While anxiety is indeed a preoccupation with the future, it's also a preoccupation with not being able to control the future. But instead of accepting not being in control, an anxious person usually tries to gain more control. The remedy for this is acceptance…and accepting that you are not in control, trusting the One who is in control cares for you, and loves you. It is there you will find the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Anxious Acceptance

Navigating Anxiety - Philippians 4:11-12

Learn to be content in any and every situation.

Navigating Anxiety  

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<p>In this 5 segment course, you will empower yourself with the Biblical understanding to address the challenges of anxiety - The Lord is near to those who are Anxious - Paul gives a prayer when you are anxious - Practical ways to counteract anxiety - Biblical thoughts for the anxious - Anxious acceptance from the Bible.</p>


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Yana Conner

Writer | Bible Teacher

<p>Yana Conner leads a discussion around a topic that is personal to her - Navigating Anxiety. Yana applies her studies of the Apostle Paul&#39;s letter to the church in Philippi. Through a short five-segment course you will come away with practical tools to navigate anxiety.</p>


How to Pray for Awareness of the Lord’s Presence in Your Life

How to Use Prayer as a Tool to Navigate Anxiety 

How Being Thankful Can Counteract Anxious Thoughts 

Your guide, Yana Conner