09/07/2026
We have all heard these verses from Philippians 4:5-7 many,
many times on what to do when we are anxious; some of us even have it memorized.
If you’re dealing with anxious thoughts as you read this, know that this state you find yourself in is not uncommon to man, and that you’re not alone; even the Lord Jesus had to battle anxious thoughts at Gethsemane about the ultimate suffering He was about to soon undertake willingly for our sake. Gethsemane in the Hebrew original means the place of crushing or pressing to produce oil, an oil press; do you see the spiritual symbolism behind the name of the place? You will feel the crushing, but it will in the end produce something beautiful-oil, which is always a symbol of anointing in the Hebrew Bible.
You and I might be in our “gethsemane” today. In fact, I am as I write these words and am doing the very thing I am encouraging all of us to do as I emulate our Lord Yeshua and also submit to the instructions of the Apostle as he was moved by God the Spirit to pen this text:
Philippians 4:5-7 ... The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here’s a little secret to receiving that peace that surpasses all understanding mentioned at the end of those verses that no one usually tells you when they cite those verses:
it is hard work to surrender the source of your anxiety in prayer and supplication. It is hard work because our heart and soul is being continually buffeted by the source of the anxious thoughts and perhaps, even has surrendered and capitulated to it. So, the Lord is really asking us to fight back, taking up the shield of faith, faith in the Lord’s abilities and all His promises and provisions for you, to push back and overcome those oppressive thoughts. God the Spirit will help and assist you as you do this, but YOU have to put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, both of which have already been given to you. God has done His part to give you both, now it’s YOUR TURN to use them. No one else can do this for you. YOU must stand up and fight and fight you must. So, don’t despair and give up, stand up today and fight with all the Lord has already given you at great cost. And you WILL HAVE the peace that passeth all understanding.
Praying for your Shalom in Yeshua…
Your brother in Christ
