It is something of a truism to say that as a society our levels of anxiety are high, and it is often said, rightly, that we see it in our young people at school, university and college. Less often, I suspect, do we acknowledge it in our older generations and, for those of us beyond our college years, in ourselves. Yet of course, it is present in all these places, and in us. It is hard to say I am anxious, but I am. Fuelled by global conflict and political instability, I am anxious about our future peace and stability, nationally and internationally. Concerned about our economy, I am anxious about our communities locally, especially those on the edge, those only just or indeed maybe no longer ‘getting by’. Acutely aware of the challenges facing the Church of England, I am anxious about how we shape our common life.
I am anxious, yet I also know that Jesus says I should not be. Jesus tells me (Matthew 6: 25) precisely that I should not worry, that I should consider the birds, how they are fed, and know that I am of infinitely more value in God’s sight. I should therefore put away worries about tomorrow for it will have enough worries of its own. Yet I am still anxious, not especially for myself but for the future, and for those in need both close and far. I am left with the dilemma, how can I put anxiety aside?
As I have contemplated this conundrum these last weeks, especially as I have watched with deepening disquiet the continuing conflicts in Israel and Gaza, in Ukraine and elsewhere, the increasingly fragile global response, and the consequence of fractured relationships between the United States with its new political order and Europe and other world nations, I have been drawn again and again to Paul’s words to the Philippians (4: 6 – 7):
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is in these words that I have found the power to at least make a fresh start, to keep Jesus’ command beginning with prayer, allowing the power of prayer, that is the power of God to work in and through me. I have, for example, committed myself to pray each day for the President of the United States, for he makes me anxious. Not everyone feels that way, I know, but he does for me. I pray for him without side or agenda, not that he would necessarily change or do something different of my choosing, but that the love and the peace of God would surround him in his work and his leadership. When I pray, I of course discover that other great truism, that I am less anxious and freed from fear. I am able to share my part in working for the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6: 35) knowing that doing this, God knows and will add all that is needed, and my trust and confidence can indeed be placed in God.
If you, like me, find yourself sometimes anxious, sometimes afraid, then you might join also with me in taking these words of Paul to the Philippians to heart ,and simply holding that which disturbs you before God. Together, we might just find it has the power not just to change us, but the world.
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Well said.
Another image which I find enormously helpful was to be found in the Lectionary Gospel for last Sunday. The story of Jesus with the disciples on a storm-tossed boat. Whether or not he calmed the waves, he calmed the fishermen. The image of Christ in the “boat” with us is for me anyway an empowering one, in the storm-tossed sea of living in the world as it is at present.
Bless you for turning our thoughts and prayers back to the Gospels
Thank you , your words are much appreciated for these anxious times.