Read Philippians 4:6-9

Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Years ago, jazz singer Bobby McFerrin recorded “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which quickly hit the charts and became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard charts. The song simply addresses all types of adverse situations that happen in life, but consistently repeats the message “Don’t worry, be happy.”

To worry means to be tormented or to suffer with persistently disturbing thoughts. Many people today suffer from depression and insomnia because they are tormented with concerns. The opposite of worry is peace. To be at peace means to be in a state of harmony, to have freedom from anxiety and obsessive or irritating thoughts, and to be in a state of calmness or serenity.

In this scripture, the cure for worry and anxiety is to first pray and share all of your concerns with God. It really helps to talk to someone and get the thoughts out of your head. But sometimes the only one to share with is the Lord. Whether you have friends or not, share all of your requests and even your deepest desires with the Lord through prayer. It is also all right to plead and to ask over and over again. This doesn’t mean that you are questioning the sovereignty of God, but it means that you are taking the matter to the one who will listen and can do something about it. Praying is therapeutic.

As you pray and share your requests, thank God for God’s faithfulness and intervention. God may not change your situation, but God can and will give you peace that does not come from human reasoning or understanding. This peace will surface even if your situation doesn’t change. Philippians 4:8-9 lists positive things to focus your thoughts on: all that is true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. In other words, with the help of God you can redirect your thoughts. This is the whole prescription for peace. Take it daily for it to take effect.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the cure for worry and anxiety. Amen.

excerpt from: African American History Month Daily Devotions 2014 by Angela Roberts Jones. Copyright©2013 by Abingdon Press. Used with permission.