Anxiety, Stress and Prayer

Phil 4:6-7

Command: Don’t be anxious about anything.

How in the world do we obey that? How can we look at every situation and be ok with it just the way it is? How, even when it is completely out of our hands, much bigger than us, and beyond our abilities to help, change or fix?

Here are some of our biggest stresses

School, Friends, Parents, Performing well in sports or drama, Being cool (Looking and acting), Doing the right thing, Being in front of people, Being rejected


What makes us anxious or stressed in situations is that we lose control, we lose the ability to change things. Say a friend gets hurt, or somebody makes a fool out of us, what causes us anxiety is that at that moment we don’t have the ability to change the situation. It is out of our hands. Maybe it is a parent’s relationship that is crumbling, we hear them fighting but are powerless to do anything. Here is what the scriptures call us to do. This is what makes a follower of Christ different than someone who doesn’t know Christ. Though both people find themselves in situations bigger than them, the believer has the ability to do more than just sit rocking back and forth and wringing their hands in fear. The believer has the ability to speak to the One who is in control. The one who can intervene. The one who can help, fix, or change.

The True Anti-Stressor

Prayer/Petition/Presenting

Prayer- Is the believers life line to the creator and sustainer of the universe. It is so much more than talking to the air or to yourself. He is listening!

Petition- Literally a request for a specific benefit from God or someone else. Don’t be afraid to ask Him to intervene. To step in and to show Himself strong.

Present- Lay it at His feet and walk away from the burden. It is too heavy for you and I. We stress because inside we were not created to handle the load. So box it up in the form of a prayer and lay it at His feet. It is a form of worship. It shows that you believe He is able and willing.



The Peace of God

This verse never paints a picture of God as the genie in a bottle that grants you all your wishes. This verse opens our eyes to the God who releases you from burdens and directs your energy to His worship. He will do as He so desires, the freedom for you and I is that in return for our presentation of our needs, He gives us a gift as well. He gives you and I peace. The peace that says no matter what; I believe that God is in control and that He is holding my needs in His hands. He will do what is right and what is beneficial. He knows best. This peace, as the scripture says, guards your heart from worry and rids your life of the stresses that drove you to your knees in the first place.


In the midst of a stressful situation, what makes you different from someone who doesn’t know Christ?

Are there things you have been afraid to talk to God about, or maybe things you thought He would be too busy to listen to?

What are some things that you need to present to Him today and then walk away from in His peace?