Phl 4:6 KJV -
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
In this world we will have troubles. These troubles can cause us stress, fear, anxiety, worry and depression.
However, as believers, we have God's Spirit living in our spirit and we have his word to help us through the difficult times in life. It is inevitable that even as believers we will go through various kinds of troubles and suffering. We suffer because
• We live in a fallen, sin cursed world.
• We sometimes make mistakes and have to suffer the consequences of them.
• Others around us make mistakes that we sometimes are victims of.
But we also have the sufferings of Christ as believers. These include:
• Suffering because we share the gospel with others and not all will choose to believe it and some may even be contentious about it.
• Suffering when we share sound grace doctrine with fellow believers who have less understanding, but who also sometimes reject it and are contentious about it.
• Suffering because we are eagerly awaiting the rapture of the Church the Body of Christ so that we can be free from this body of sin (our vile flesh) and this sinful world.
• Suffering because Satan has a policy of evil against us and he has an evil course for this world. We are essentially in enemy territory until the rapture.
And other similar things. So suffering is inevitable and in fact the more godly that we live the more we will suffer.
2Ti 3:12 KJV -
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Our suffering though, as believers, isn't for nothing. Suffering produces patience, experience and hope within us. God also comforts us through His word in all our sufferings and he works all things together for our good. Also, when we go through suffering and are weak, then Christ can be strong in us.
Romans 5:3-5
3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2Co 1:4 KJV -
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
But even though we suffer, does that mean that God want us to live in fear, anxiety, worry and depression? No! The book of Philippians is an amazing book. During the time of its writing, the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the gospel yet he wrote a this epistle which is primarily about living in joy, thanksgiving and having peace of mind even amidst suffering. In Phil chapter 4 verses 4-7 Paul says,
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
No matter what we are going through we can still be joyful in the Lord (we are not joyful ABOUT the difficult situation but we are joyful IN all things because no matter what, we have Christ in us, we have his word and we have our blessed hope); we can also be moderate in all things which means having emotional stability throughout the ups and downs in life; "careful about nothing" which means living worry and anxiety free, and not putting our hope in the things of this world but in Christ; thankful in all things; as well as to be prayerful (prayer gets us through difficult times and helps us in staying joyful and thankful), and when we do this we will have a peace of mind that passeth all understanding.
But HOW do we do this? Well, Paul tells us in the next verses.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on [meditate upon] these things.
9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Those GOOD THINGS mentioned in verse 8 are the spiritual THINGS OF GOD found in God's word rightly divided [sound doctrine]! Paul also says, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
This means essentially that as we get sound grace doctrine in Paul's Epistles built up in our inner man, by reading, studying, believing and obeying it, we will have peace of mind. We also study the rest of the Bible, with a mid-acts dispensational view, and it gives us hope as Romans 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
So, as a believer to have peace and joy in your life, and to overcome fear, anxiety, stress, worry and depression, its important to get into God's word and begin reading and studying it rightly divided.
Please note: Only BELIEVERS can have true, lasting peace, joy and hope. To be saved unto eternal life, understand that you are a sinner and that you cannot save yourself. Then, simply believe how that Christ Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again for your justification. Once you believe that glorious gospel, you will have eternal life in Christ!
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