An Invitation

In Philippians 4:6 Paul writes: 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 

“Be anxious for nothing”—what does this mean? Is Paul rebuking his readers? Does he want us to conclude that it’s not okay to be anxious? Or is he extending an invitation? Perhaps the apostle who survived floggings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and starvation understood that everyone experiences anxiety when faced with difficult circumstances (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Perhaps he is offering a practice that will help us cope in the midst of these uncertain times. 

Sadly, sometimes this verse has been used to suggest that when followers of Christ experience anxiety, their prayer lives need work. At other times, it is quoted as a pat answer when someone expresses worry, as if merely saying the words magically resolves the experience. 

Anxiety and fear are normal human responses when our world is upended, and fear can keep us safe by reminding us to exercise necessary caution. Recognizing this truth teaches us that our emotions are not enemies. Rather, they are friends who can gently show us the state of our hearts, clarify our priorities, and draw our attention to important things, if we are willing to acknowledge them and listen to them.  

However, anxiety ceases to be our friend when its intensity and duration interfere with our ability to live our lives. People who live with anxiety disorders have experienced this level of anxiety. Whether we’ve experienced anxiety to a clinical degree or not, most of us don’t want to stay stuck in difficult emotions, and we need strategies to help us release our anxiety in helpful ways.

This is where the invitation of Philippians 4:6 meets us. Bringing our anxieties to God in prayer is one way of getting unstuck. If you are finding that prayer is very hard because your body and mind are on high alert, be encouraged: there are many tools and practices that can help you manage and move through your emotions. (A selection of resources is included at the bottom of this post.) 

One practice that Christians have been using for hundreds of years is the Examen, a prayer model developed by Ignatius of Loyola. It asks us to notice the moments of consolation and desolation, or highs and lows, in our days. In these times when sadness and anxiety are powerfully felt, this simple practice is an invitation to experience our emotions before God and allow them to move through us and into God’s care. 

The Examen

Feel free to engage with this practice if it feels safe and supportive for you in this moment. You can try incorporating this practice into your daily rhythm, or just do it once per week–whatever works with your schedule and allows you to process your emotions with God in a helpful, healthy way.  

1. Ask God to send his Spirit

Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, heart, and understanding.

2. Give thanks for the day

Think back on the events of the day and remember moments of happiness, enjoyment, and blessing. Now, thank God for those gifts.

3. Review the day

Consider the moments in your day where you felt overwhelmed, anxious, angry, sad, or lonely. Were there situations where you wish you had responded differently? Bring these thoughts and feelings before God.

4. Ask for forgiveness

Where necessary, ask God for forgiveness. Take a moment to reflect on the gift of forgiveness, and to receive this gift.

5. Pray for the next day

Now, ask for the presence and help of the Holy Spirit. If there are any particular needs or challenges that you will face tomorrow, bring them before God specifically.

Simplified Examen 

If you have less time, here is a simplified version.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, heart, and understanding. Before God, consider these questions: What am I sad about? What am I angry about? What am I worried about? What am I glad about? Entrust your emotions to God’s care. 

Which spiritual practices help you feel settled and connected to God and others? 

May you know God’s non-anxious presence and remember that you are held in love today.