What are you worried about?

A young child in my office once told me that when she gets in the shower and shuts the curtain, she is afraid that sharks and alligators might get her.  Pretty silly, right?  But, aren’t all our fears pretty silly as well?

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing (4:7).”  We might interpret that as don’t be afraid, but literally the Greek could be translated as, “Don’t be concerned.”  How is this possible?  Is it possible to live without concern, without worry, without being afraid of what might happen?

Most of us think that in order to have no fear we must be in control.  In some form or fashion, our fears are related to feeling that we don’t have control over something and, as a result, there may be consequences that we don’t desire.  We spend an enormous amount of energy trying to keep that from happening, by attempting to control everything that might affect us in some way.  But, as the young people are apt to say, “How’s that working for you?”

We are delusional if we think we have that much control in the first place.  The circumstances of our lives are often not of our own doing.  Things happen.  What we do control is how we react to what happens to us; but for the most part, the circumstances are outside of our control.  However, there is one who really is in control.

What Paul is suggesting in this letter to the Philippians is for them to pray, to bring their concerns, their worries, and their fears to the Lord.  Today’s English Version simplifies it by paraphrasing this passage as follows, “Ask God for what you need.”  How does this help?  Asking God for what we need puts God in control of our situation.  When we do this, Paul writes, God’s peace will cause our hearts and minds to feel safe; because we know that God cares for us.

David wrote something similar in one of my favorite Psalms, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:3-4).”