By Samantha Seal

When the world is constantly changing around me, sometimes I am overcome by anxiety and feel that I can’t catch my breath. I look around and see that there is nothing stable in this world that can give me the true peace of mind that I am longing for. In that time of desperation, I turn to the many scriptures containing practical steps for receiving true peace that God promises us. These consolations, or comforts, from the Word of God, bring me joy and settle my anxiety (Psalm 94:19). 

I pray these three verses will calm your heart, ease your mind, and focus your attention back on our God of peace. 

Philippians 4:6-7

First, in Philippians, we learn what to do with our hearts when we are anxious. It may be hard to see at first, but Paul actually gives us a mathematical equation to teach us this valuable lesson. Philippians 4:6-7 says “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch the equation? Prayer + Supplication = Peace. Instead of holding onto your worries until they overwhelm your mind, turn them into prayers. God wants to hear all about your anxieties because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Next, you need to add supplication, which is the action of asking for something humbly. The something you need to ask God for is peace, and that takes a dose of humility. It is not easy to admit that we are weak. Because of our pride, we want to control our lives on our own. To receive true peace, though, you need to humbly go to God and release that control to Him. The result of this equation is a peace that “guards your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” When you have true peace from God, He protects you against temptations to be anxious. 

Isaiah 26:3

Second, in Isaiah, we learn what to do with our minds to receive God’s perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 says “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” It is extremely difficult to keep our minds on Christ when we are going through trials here on this earth. Our minds want to focus on the pile of bills stacked on the kitchen table, our loved ones in the hospital, or our family members fighting in the other room. Anxiety is not of the Lord; it comes from the Devil as a distraction to the work of the Kingdom. When we are anxious, we worry too much about our own lives and are blinded to all the opportunities God is giving us to serve Him. The last thing our human minds want to do is focus on Christ and His goodness, but that’s exactly what our minds need to do. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When you have anxious thoughts, surrender them to the only one who is in control of the always-changing world. Even now, God is moving in ways you cannot even imagine, and there is nothing in your life that does not first go through His hands. God’s perfect peace is awaiting you when you give your anxieties to Him. When we have God’s perfect peace, not the temporary peace that the world gives us, there are no holes in that peace where worry can squeeze through. It’s perfect, just like God Himself. 

Psalm 121:1-3

And finally, we learn in Psalms, what to do with our eyes when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. Psalm 121:1-3 says “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” It is so easy to keep our eyes on our terrible circumstances, but the Psalmist encourages us to lift our eyes to the Lord. When you concentrate on everything that is falling apart around you, you can easily become overwhelmed and lose sight of the power of God. However, by shifting your focus from your situations to the never-changing promises of God, you begin to trust Him more. And as you trust God more, your anxiety begins to fade away because you realize how big God is in comparison to your troubles. Often we tell God how big our circumstances are, but I encourage you to tell your circumstances how big your God is! God promises those who look to him in the midst of their anxiety that He will never leave them and never let them fall. You may stumble as you go through trials in life, but God will always be there to catch you if you keep your eyes on Him. 

So whenever you are struggling with anxiety, align your heart, mind, and eyes with God. And in all His love, God promises to never leave you and provide you with peace — perfect peace.