Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Okay, so we all may enjoy the reggae song, “Don’t Worry – Be Happy.” However, it’s pretty hard to do what these simple words instruct – stop worrying and be happy. Big problems are discussed in this song – no place to live, late rent, no money. Can you really make these types of big problems go away simply by being happy?
The Bible gives us a different approach to handle our problems. First, through prayer, hand off your problems to the one who can solve them. As you pray, remember to be thankful for who he is and all that he has done for you. By remembering God’s faithfulness in the past, you can trust that he will continue to be provide for your needs. As you replace worry with trust, you will be filled with God’s peace, which is so amazing that it is described as “surpassing all understanding.”
When you give your worry to God, not only are you filled with peace, but these verses tell us that your heart and mind are guarded from the harmful effects of worry. Jesus made a similar statement in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?” (Matt. 5:25-27)
Thinking about it, maybe with a little alteration, this is really good advice:
Don’t Worry – Trust God – Be Happy