Never Give Up
Philippians 4:1-23
The 18th century London preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, who often struggled from depression, said, “The wilderness is the way to Canaan. The low valley leads to the towering mountain. Defeat prepares for victory. The raven is sent forth before the dove. The darkest hour of the night precedes the day-dawn.” In Philippians 4, Paul gives several sources of strength to continue in the face of struggle. When we find ourselves in the wilderness and tempted to give up, prayer provides strength to go forward.
In verse 6, Paul gives the antidote to anxiety over current and future circumstances:
“Be anxious for nothing.” Prayer is the certain cure for anxiety. Paul admonished the Philippians to be free of anxiety through prayer. There are many anxiety-reducing drugs, but prayer is more effective than them all. It is tempting to be anxious about some things in life, but Paul said be anxious for “nothing.” This kind of peace is our motivation to prayer. A lack of prayer is nothing more than a lack of trust in the wisdom, power and goodness of the Lord. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
“But in everything by prayer and supplication.” Whatever has the potential of arousing anxiety is a matter to devote to prayer. There is nothing off-limits. God gives us this invitation to prayer. At the time Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, he was in a Roman prison. He knew anxiety, but he also knew the cure that “prayer and supplication” brought. He had found peace and joy in very uncertain circumstances.
“With thanksgiving.” Believers should express thanksgiving to the Father for His daily provision and sovereign rule in their lives. When believers thank God, they acknowledge the source of their help. Life is not fate or chance. It is God who brings peace in trying times, and it is God who provides for our needs.
“Let your requests be made known to God.” Paul encouraged the Philippians to tell God what they wanted. There are three words used in this verse for prayer: prayer, supplication and requests. The word “request” refers to those things for which they were asking. The phrase “be made known to God” should not be interpreted to mean God is limited in His knowledge. God knows what we have need of before we ask Him.
What is the result of anxiety-killing prayer? “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
Melton– Lessons by Frankie Melton, pastor of Heath Springs Baptist Church, Heath Springs. He has a B.A. degree from Charleston Southern University, and a Ph.D. and M.Div. from Southern Seminary.