“Do not be anxious about anything.” – Philippians 4:6

This may be one of those verses that is easy for us to quote to others when they are going through uncertainty, but it is not always that easy to do when we’re in the middle of it.

My wife and I recently booked flights for a family reunion. I don’t mind flying, but this flight had a unique element – it was on 9/11.

You may think the events of 14 years ago don’t have the same emotional impact on us today as they did when they first occurred, but I can assure you if you are getting on a plane on that date, the events of 9/11/2001 are quite vivid in your mind.

The actual flight turned out to be totally uneventful, but as that travel day grew near, so did my anxiety. It did not help that I had a dream that we crashed, although in my dream we did survive (my wife is just finding out about this dream as she reads this – some things are better kept to ourselves until the event has passed).

Even though, “Do not be anxious about anything,” ran through my head often leading up to our departure, I was still anxious. I was reminded that sometimes what I know to be true – that God is in control and that even if that flight did turn out to be my last, my next stop would be face to face with Jesus (something I look forward to with great excitement!) – my mind can still bring anxiety into my life.

Does my experience invalidate this verse? Not at all. In fact, it was this verse that reminded me over and over that when anxiety popped up in my head, I could trust God to work out His perfect plan.

There is another verse that reminds me, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Many people are anxious about dying, but part of what makes the Good News so good, is that death has lost its power over those who believe in Jesus. As I continue to live each day, I have the opportunity to love others as Christ loves me. Yet, when it is time for me to leave this world – oh, what great gain that will be!

Let’s talk about it –

What brings anxiety into your life? 

How can remembering that God is in control help you deal with your anxious feelings?