From the beginning when Kate wakes in the morning, she worries. She wonders if the coffee machine will work. Will her kids fight her about what to wear? What if her son misbehaves in school? How will she deal with the teacher? And lunches… did she make the kids’ lunches last night? Will her husband be safe on his way to work? He usually runs late, which will cause him to speed. What if he gets in an accident? And the Bible study she leads later today…. did she prepare enough questions? Are they good questions? And all these thoughts rush through her mind before she lifts her head from the pillow.
In the above example, Kate’s thoughts flow out of control, just like a river that has overflowed its banks. Picture the water rushing into unwanted places, destroying land, damaging property, producing life-threatening situations. So too our uncontained thoughts can destroy our lives. To bring relief, the waters need to ebb and flow freely within their banks. Similarly we need to bring back our thoughts within the protection of their God-given banks.
So when overcome with worry, how can we help these flooded thoughts recede?
Paul helps us answer this question in his letter to the Philippians. In this epistle, Paul sought to encourage his friends, who like many of us, felt overcome with anxiety. He writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6, 7).
When I first read this passage I wonder if Paul ever worried. How can gratitude solve anxiety? The two do not seem to go together. Tell us to meditate, problem solve, go for a run. But say a prayer of thanksgiving?
So I started thinking about what happens when we thank God. I realized that thanksgiving is an act of humility. We admit that we have received something that we did not earn. How often do you thank your employer for your paycheck? Probably not that often. That’s because you worked for it. You recognize that you deserve the money.
In thanksgiving to God, we humble ourselves, admitting that all we have—our life, our families, our jobs, our home, our food—come from Him. We confess that we are in fact dependent on God. Worry, however, springs from our desire to be independent of God, to act and think about ourselves and our environment in ways reserved for God alone.
So Paul tells the Philippians to be thankful because giving thanks gets to the heart of the problem—their struggle to trust God. They needed to remember that Someone else is in control.
When we give thanks, we remember how God has proved His faithfulness to us. We become aware of His involvement in our lives.
During a time of increased anxiety and worry, I began to train myself to be thankful. At this time, I didn’t feel much gratitude. In fact, I felt angry. I wondered why God didn’t do more in my life. But I decided to oblige Paul in an attempt to counteract my growing bitterness.
So I started keeping a thanksgiving journal. Each morning, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a pen in the other, I wrote a letter of thanks to God. Some days I simply said I was grateful to have shelter with running water and a warm place to sleep. Other mornings I gave thanks for family and friends. At other times, I thanked God for the sacrifice of Jesus.
As I continued I became aware of God’s activity in my life. My gratitude grew. I become more and more thankful. Still to this day when I wake in the morning, I don’t always have a long list, but I remember that I am dependent. I need God. I need Him to hear me, to listen, to respond. I cannot live on my own.
When we worry, much of it results form thinking we are the ones in control, that we must solve all our problems plus everyone’s we care about. But this isn’t the case. We must learn to rest in the arms of the One who said He will take care of us. Giving thanks to Him refocuses our thoughts—from ourselves to Him, the giver and sustainer of life. We, in exchange, experience peace. God’s peace. It is a peace that guards our hearts, our minds. And it results from a close, intimate relationship with our Maker.
Prayers of thanksgiving then remind us of the Provider’s faithful provision and lead us to His presence. There the flood waters of worry begin to recede as we agree with God about our powerlessness over our lives. As the murky waters depart, His peace, like a pure river flows down into our hearts, guarding us with tranquility.
