Mental Health WeekSample

In Philippians 4:6, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Anxiety, as it’s referenced here, is a word that conveys being mentally troubled, pulled in different directions, and consumed by care, especially over things beyond our control. If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with this feeling, and you’ve also probably heard this same passage used to silence that feeling. We know these verses to be true and encouraging, but how are they realistically applicable when anxiety is not just a vague fear or a passing worry, but a persistent mental weight that isolates and paralyzes you? Lucky for us, Paul uses Philippians 4 not just to command us not to be anxious, but to guide us in how to respond to anxiety.

When anxiety begins to rise, gratitude should be our first line of defense.

● Gratitude reorients us. It pulls us outside of our own spiraling thoughts and recenters our minds on what is still good and true. The less emphasis we put on what we’re missing, the less opportunity we have to dwell among those thoughts.

● Gratitude draws us closer to others. When we reflect on who and what we’re thankful for, we remember we’re not alone. Anxiety thrives in an atmosphere of self-obsession and isolation. Let yourself lean on the people God has intentionally placed around you.

● Gratitude helps us see the bigger picture. Gratitude reminds us of how God has shown up in the past. And if He was faithful then, He’ll be faithful now. Paul says, “The Lord is near.” That truth changes everything. God’s nearness is not a future hope but a present reality. And it’s His presence that allows us to lay down our anxiety.

Sometimes, especially when we're struggling with mental health, it’s hard to ask for help—even from God. But Paul encourages us to bring everything to Him. When we pray, we’re declaring with our mouths and our hearts that we don’t have control, but God does, and that’s where our peace comes from. God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean He removes every stressor in your life, but He will remove the anxiety that results from it. Prayer is our reminder that we can have peace before we have the answers when we seek our peace from Him.

Paul isn’t just telling us what we can’t think about. He even offers an alternative. Anxiety thrives in a mental space where lies go unchecked. To combat this, Paul gives us a filter: truth, nobility, purity, beauty, and excellence. If our thoughts don’t line up with these things, we’re invited to shift our focus. This isn’t toxic positivity or mental denial. It's a spiritual discipline. To redirect our eyes to see life through the lens of God’s faithfulness.

Paul wasn’t writing these words from a place of comfort. He wrote them while imprisoned for preaching the Gospel after already being beaten, shipwrecked, rejected, stoned, and left for dead. If anyone had a reason to be anxious, it was Paul. He’s not writing this to shame the church for being afraid. He wasn’t belittling their mental battles or offering quick fixes. He was speaking from experience that it is possible for a believer to choose contentment over anxiety in any circumstance.

The root of anxiety is often the fear of being out of control. But for the believer, that truth in reality should be our greatest comfort.

Praise God that we’re not in control.

Praise God that we don’t have all the answers.

Praise God that things don’t go the way we planned.

Praise God that the weight of the world does not rest on our shoulders.