“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7
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Ministry can be hard. The pressures of leading people, following up with them, and hearing heartbreaking situations, all while trying to walk with God yourself, can be a difficult journey. Sit down with a local pastor and ask them what they are carrying, and you’ll see that ministers are weighed down continually by the weight of their own circumstances, leadership issues and the demands of others.
Difficulty and anxiousness aren’t limited to pastors and ministers — we all face them. Through the Scriptures, we see plenty of others who faced pressures and difficult circumstances in life. But there’s an example found in the New Testament that gives the antidote to anxiousness.
The apostle Paul was no stranger to difficulty and struggles. In 2 Corinthians, Paul twice lists out difficulties he faced throughout his ministry. A letter to the Philippian church gives insight on how he may have handled the difficulty he faced (Philippians 4:6-7).
In this passage, Paul tells us that the secret to avoiding anxiousness is remembering how God came through in the past (thanksgiving), and trusting that He is the same God who will sustain you in the future. When you are sure of this, you can fight the anxiety that comes with difficult circumstances, because the peace of God guards your heart and mind.
Paul knew we all face anxious moments in life. We will be stretched, challenged and heartbroken. And yet, in the midst of it, we can experience the peace necessary to sustain us until the next day. And the next. And the next.
— Reza Zadeh, Denver Broncos chaplain
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