Pandemic Anxiety: Philippians 4:6-20

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6, NASB).

The coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic has greatly caused an increase in anxiety in our world today. Listening to the news we are told that during the pandemic people have been required to make adjustments in their lives. Some have lost jobs causing financial stress and strain on the family. Some have not lost their jobs, but the need to ensure safety has required that workers do their work in new ways. School teachers have been required to teach virtually while their students learned from home. The fact that children were not able to go to school has required adjustments in family life. Parents cannot depend on the school to watch out for their children while they go to work. In some cases this means that the parent must give up their job in order to be home with their children. This too creates a financial strain on the family. As anxiety increases the consumption of alcohol and other drugs has increased. Anxiety and tension has meant an increase in crimes including robbery, road rage, domestic abuse, and murder. As we are getting closer to herd immunity there will be other reasons for anxiety. We can be sure that while some eagerly anticipate a return to normal the reality is that we will have to readjust to a new normal. This too will create anxiety.

How do we deal with the worries in our lives? What can we do to prevent anxious moments and circumstances in our lives? What are some reasons that we worry in the first place? Using Philippians as a starting point I want to suggest that our anxiety during this pandemic reveal to us issues that lead to anxiety. As we look at the New Testament we find that the writers include several teachings about worry and anxiety. While people tend to look at the social and economic conditions, the New Testament writers tend to look at circumstances and situations from a theological perspective. They record for us the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

Jesus gives to us two teaching from the Sermon on the Mountain (Matt. 5-7) that can help us with our anxiety caused by the problems that we face in life. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us that we do not need to worry about our needs. God takes care of the birds in the air and the lilies of the field. We are more valuable than they are, so we can be confident that God will supply our needs also. Besides, we do not add to our life span by worrying. Instead of worrying about our material need, we should seek the kingdom of God first with confidence that God will supply our needs. So, one way that we decrease anxiety is through our trust in God.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mountain (Matt. 7:24-29) Jesus tells us that our lives must be built on a solid foundation. Those who hear His words and follow them are building their lives upon a rock. Those that do not hear and obey His words are building their lives on sand. Now, when things are normal; that is when there are no storms in our lives, the house built on sand looks just as good as the house built on rock. However, we can be sure that storms will come into our lives. The wind and the rain will make known the foundation that the house is built upon. Yes, the pandemic is a storm. Those that have built their lives on the rock named Jesus do not worry. The anxiety that leads to crime and substance abuse come from a lack of faith and trust in Jesus. This anxiety comes because the person has not built their life on the rock. They have heard the voices of the world’s wisdom that offer many and various suggestions, but they offer no real assurance that their house will stand because sand is not a sure foundation.

The book of James is a book of ethics and morality. Our ethics and morality must be grounded in our faith in Jesus. In America there are hundreds of religions. James tells us that religion that is not grounded in a relationship with Jesus is not true religion. James gives us examples of pure religion. He writes, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (Jas. 1:26, NASB). James continues saying, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God and Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (v. 27). Did you get that? The religion that finds favor with God is not the religion that finds favor in the world. There is a difference between the ethical and moral standards and practices of God and that of the world. Jesus summed it up saying, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24, NASB).

Let us examine our text for this article, Philippians 4:6-20. Paul writes this letter to the church at Philippi to thank them for their generosity in their contributions to the ministry (Phil. 1:3-5). He encourages the church to continue the work that God has called them to do with confidence that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). Paul writes that just as he suffers in prison they too will suffer for the sake of the gospel at the hands of those that oppose Christ (1:27-30). They are to be unified in their love for Jesus and one another. This means that they will mutually put others above themselves (2:1-18). If they will continue in the work of spreading the gospel they will have no need to worry about anything. God will protect them so that they will be able to do the work that He has called them to do.

Paul gives the church gives three remedies for anxiety to the church. First they must pray. Prayer is their communication with the Father. In prayer we express our love to the Father and acknowledge that He alone is our God. Our religion is based not on the philosophies of the world. Rather, our religion is based entirely upon our faith in Jesus because God is God and besides Him there is no other God and there is no other savior (Isa. 43:11). In prayer we offer up supplications making our needs known to the Lord. Regardless of the situation we give thanks to God because we believe that God keeps His promise. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Notice, Paul does not say that we ought to be thankful for everything that takes place in our lives. Instead, because we have faith in God we can be thankful in every situation knowing that He is with us.

If we remain in Christ and Christ remains in us we will have the peace of Christ. Jesus said, “‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (Jn. 14:27, NASB). In a pandemic we can avoid being overcome with anxiety if we have peace with God. We can have a sense of well-being if we are in Christ and Christ is in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. “The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v.7).

In a pandemic we can overcome worry and anxiety by thinking about the things of God. Paul gives us a list of things that we should think about in both good times and bad times. We must learn the thoughts and ways of the Lord so that we too can practice the things that are of God. We do not need to be anxious. We can dwell on the things of Christ. Paul gives us this promise: “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (v. 9). Avoid being anxious even in a pandemic. Believe in Jesus; learn His words; obey His commands, and receive His peace.