Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB)

We live in a fallen world. Unknown circumstances, growing needs, unresolved hurts, struggles, and other concerns can cause us to languish in worry and fear. In Philippians 4:4-5, Paul has just encouraged his readers to always rejoice in the Lord and let others see their gracious works. Now he addresses their natural tendency to worry about their hard circumstances by reminding them to turn over their burdens to God.

Worry in many ways is the opposite of trusting God. A worrisome spirit is propelled by doubt and pride. Can we really influence the future by fretting about it? No, but our God both knows and controls what will happen to us (Romans 8:28-30). We were not designed to give ourselves to worry, but to depend on our Father in heaven.

When we pray, God acts on our behalf. He is fully able to give us what we lack because he is always with us and has unlimited resources (Matthew 6:25-33). The Father loves us and is waiting for us to ask him to provide all that we need. Thus, we do not need to worry, but look to him and then bask in the peace that he brings to our hearts. It is through prayer that we often remember that he is leading the way and will provide the power to fulfill our mission as his ambassadors.

How are we to pray?  First, we are to petition God. The concerns on our hearts must be verbalized to our loving Father as a request for him to act. Second, we are to pray with thanksgiving, expressing our gratefulness to him for his steadfast love, his care for us in the past, and his continued faithfulness into the future.

When we embrace God’s peace that he gives, it surpasses what we could think or know about our concerns (v. 7). Truly, he surrounds us on every side, guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus our Messiah. These and other promises of God in the Bible emphasize his love and commitment to us. We are blessed so richly as we hide these truths deep in our hearts.