A Pathway out of the Valley of Fret

Philippians 4:6-9

Americans don’t agree on much, but we were surprised to learn that there was something we do agree upon… in an article from USA today in the latter portion of 2021, “9 out of 10 Americans agree that we are having trouble staying sane.”

It’s all we can do to keep our heads on straight political chaos, the price of groceries, uncertainty about the economy and future.

The Journal of the American medical association cited a study that in the case, “An exponential increase in anxiety and depression. People of each generation in the 20th century were three times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than people of the preceding generations.”

Three times! How can this be? Cars are safer than ever, we regulate food, water, and electricity. The playgrounds our kids play on are night and day different than when we were kids...

If worry were an Olympic event the United States would win the Gold Medal...

Our college kids are feeling it as well. A study found that of an incoming 200,000 freshmen. Students reported all time lows in overall mental health and emotional stability…

One Psychologist, Robert Lahey pointed out that the average child today exhibits the same amount of Anxiety of the average psychiatric patient of the 1950’s

Kids have more toys, clothes, and opportunities than ever but by the time they leave home they are wrapped tighter than Egyptian Mummies

Were tense. Were paying a price for it. To see the consequences of fret...

Ex. Psalms 37…

Fretting only causes harm… Harm to our necks, our backs, our bowels, our jaws, anxiety can twist us to emotional pretzels. It can make our eyes twitch, our blood pressure to rise, our heads to ache, and our armpits to sweat.

I certainly do not want to leave the impression that anxiety can be waved away with a single sermon…

God used the pen of the Apostle Paul to help give us a pathway out of the valley of fret, and Philippians 4 gives us wonderful spiritual tools for overcoming anxiety...

He wrote this phrase in the active tense in Greek which implies an ongoing state. It’s this life of perpetual anxiety that the apostle Paul is walking us away from...

The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.

The apostle offers us some ideas on how to win the war on worry

I) The Attitude of Praise - (Vs. 4-5)

You want to deal with anxiety than don’t meditate on the mess. Meditate on your master. It does you no good to ponder your problem. It does us no good to ruminate on our struggles.

A. Rejoice in His Sovereignty

The more you look at God the more your problem is brought down to it’s proper size.

Psalm 121:1–2 “1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth.”

Do you see the intentionality of the Psalmist… we get to choose where we look.

We gain nothing when setting our eyes on the problem and yet we gain everything when we set our eyes on the Lord...

Ex. Peter on the water… As long as His eyes were on the master he could do the impossible, but when his eyes were on the storm he sunk like a rock.

Are you sinking like a rock today? Could it be that your eyes are looking in the wrong direction?

Did you know that God is in control of all things… 1 Timothy 6:15 “15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”

If He sustains all and is over all don’t you think He has control over what keeps you up at nights?

II) The Act of Petition - (Vs. 6-7)

A. Reject worry - (Vs. 6)

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Fear triggers either fear or despair… Choose wisely

Psalm 50:15 “15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Matthew 7:7–8 “7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Hebrews 4:16 “16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Path to peace is paved with prayer.

Isaiah 62:6 “6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, Which shall never hold their peace day nor night: Ye that make mention of the Lord, Keep not silence,”

God commands us to remind Him about his promises to us.

Isaiah 43:26 “26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: Declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”

Find a promise that fits your problem and build a prayer around it.

B. Respond in Worship

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Anxiety refuses to share the heart with gratitude

Ex. An older married couple battling parkinsons...

I think we could all follow their example this morning… What are some blessings that you have in your life this morning...

As you list your blessings I believe you will start to see the trepadation disappear. The quickest way to eliminate worry is through grattitude.

The more grateful the heart the less anxious the soul. As you look at your blessings you will see your anxieties begin to disappear, one heart felt thank you will suck the oxygen out of the world of worry.

III) The Act of Purity (Vs. 8)

Do not let anxious negative thoughts cloud your mind… Meditate on good things...

A. Ponder the positive

One counselor said most people let those little ANTs creep into their mind and take over their thoughts, but Paul says...

Ex. When life gives you lemons… You can make yourself miserable with the doubts and worries or you can allow yourself to trust in the provision of the almighty.

Honestly my perspective of a terrible time is nothing compared to some of the lemons you have been handed… We can take these opportunities to

B. Pursue the peaceful

Philippians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 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.

For some this morning the battle with Anxiety has deep roots… Once again I do not want to give the impression that it can be dealt with easily, but I do want to encourage you on behalf of your heavenly father who is saying, I will help you with the anxiety that has marred your days thus far, they will not mar you any longer.

There is a new day waiting you my friends...

Conclusion

Celebrate God

Ask God for help

Leave the problem with God

Meditate on good things