Replacing Fear with Faith

In a world full of deadlines and 'save the dates', how many of us spend days stressed out? Being constantly aware of what needs to be done and fearful about certain circumstances and their outcomes constantly weigh us down. Especially in a culture where we are always running against the clock that rules our daily activities, worries begin to pile up. When this happens, it is hard to live right. Always being anxious about the next thing takes away from what is happening now. We begin to miss out on life. However, our God is great and He foreknew our difficulty because He speaks to us in His word about anxiety and gives us promises to live by.

Philippians 4:6 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". That is what God asks of us. It seems so simple, yet we are constantly tested to live out this command. Of course, being nervous about something can be good. God gives us emotions for certain purposes. Sometimes, a little anxiety will get us moving. We remember our daily devotion needs to be done or that we must remember to pray for someone. However, to be fearful or overcome with anxiety is not good. It only wastes our lives away, makes us short-tempered, and takes all our energy. Being consumed with these emotions is in no way glorifying to our Creator or being good witness to the world, which also worries about the unimportant details of life. The next portion of this verse gives a simple answer to overcoming all temptation, including anxiety. Prayer is the simple action which makes life so much better, yet it is so easy to forget about, especially in the midst of worrying. Paul also adds that we are to make our requests in the midst of thanksgiving because He has already graciously given us everything we have.


Anxiety and fear about the future are common to all different people. This is why Philippians is not the only book which deals with this problem. In addition to Paul speaking about it, Jesus himself preached about worry.

Matthew 6:25-34 Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (25)

"Do not be worried about your life". Another direct command about anxiety, which must mean it is important. Jesus points out food and clothes specifically in this verse. He does not mean to say that these specific items are our particular struggles, but that we worry about security. We do not trust Him to take care of the least of our needs because we feel we can handle those parts. But when it comes to the big problems which we cannot control, then we hand over the reigns quickly in hopeful prayer. How sad is it that we will only give up control to the parts of our lives we cannot even begin to control anyway? This is the exact reason Jesus tackles the seemingly small issues. Those who trust Him in the small details are the ones who truly have faith. He adds at the end that not only should we not worry about security and give up control for the small things, but that ultimately these things do not even matter. Life is about loving God and loving others unconditionally.

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (26)

This illustration about birds is used to further show why we should not worry. Unlike those of us who worry and try to control our circumstances, the birds do not sow or reap or store up what they need. And yet these birds, which were not created in His image nor saved out of Love, were fed. We must not forget that God is our heavenly Father who cares for our needs and will take care of them. Even our earthly fathers' love cannot compare to that of our heavenly Father.

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? (27)

I love this statement because it carries so much truth! Not only does worrying not accomplish anything, but it wastes the gift of today.

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, (28) yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. (29)

Again, another illustration showing us not to waste time with the unimportant details of life.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! (30)

After finishing His illustration about grass, Jesus insults us greatly. Us of little faith! That is exactly what it means to worry because at the root of anxiety is simply fear, which is the opposite of faith. We feel like we do not know if things will work out how we plan so we begin to worry because our trust is in ourselves instead of in Him. We should know that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28), which cancels all reason to fear. Faith in its simplest definition is complete trust in Him.

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' (31) For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (32)

Again, we are told not to worry. The reason given this time has to do with not being of the world because even 'the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things' for security. We are supposed to be different than them by having faith in the Lord who created us and has our days planned out. Since He created us, our Father knows us more than anyone else. Not only does He know exactly what we need, but He is the only one who has the power to make sure we get these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (33)

Now in addition to what not to do, we are given the command of what we should do. Ben Stuart, a favorite pastor of mine, pointed out that it is impossible to live in anxiety when we know we will get what we seek. Fear only comes with the unknown. So since Christ promises us the kingdom, we can seek it with full confidence and not stress whether we will inherit it or not. This will enable us to more fully pursue Him and enjoy life along the way. In addition, if we strive after God and the things that matter, the unimportant and temporal things will also be granted to us. I find it ironic that those seeking things that do not last end up giving up God and all the eternal things. In most cases, they do not even find contentment or fulfillment with the earthly things they have gained. On the other hand, those who receive God's kingdom find contentment, fulfillment, and the earthly things.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (34)

What a great way to end a powerful passage. It reminds us to live day by day in order to not miss out on the present. Let God worry about the future so we can have peace for today.