2. Make Your Requests Known to God
“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.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Throughout Scripture, God makes it very clear that He wants to help us. Nowhere does God tell us that we must handle our situations on our own. His invitation has always been, “Come to Me, and I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13 – “I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand… Fear not, I am the One who helps you.”
1 Peter 5:7 – “…because He cares for you.”
John 16:33 – “You will have tribulation, but take heart (be of good cheer); I have overcome the world.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Do not fear… for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Matthew 6:25, 33 – “Do not worry about everyday life. Seek first the kingdom of God, and He will give you everything you need.”
God wants you to bring anything that causes you anxiety and lay it at His feet. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Paul tells us how to do this (v. 6):
- Petition God.
- Be thankful.
Do not come to God whining or complaining. Come to Him in faith, thankful for all He has done and grateful that He hears you. First John 5:14–15 tells us that we can have confidence that He hears us when we pray and that He answers our prayers. Be thankful for that truth and rest in Him.
When we maintain a heart of thanksgiving and present our requests to God in faith, we experience God’s peace – a tranquil state of the soul – regardless of how difficult our circumstances may be. His peace is beyond human explanation. I have personally experienced that peace. It is remarkable.
God’s peace floods the heart, swallowing up fear and anxiety until they lose their grip on us. The word Paul uses to describe what peace does is phroureo. It is a military term that means “to guard,” “to protect by military watch,” or “to garrison” (Blue Letter Bible).
God’s peace guards the heart and mind against the intrusion of fear and anxiety. However, you cannot experience God’s peace if you refuse to trust Him. You allow His peace to guard your heart when you place your confidence fully in Him – not merely believing that He is able to help, but actually trusting Him.
There is a difference between faith and trust. In simple terms, faith is knowing and believing that God can do something. Trust is resting in that knowledge. It is experiencing peace and confidence in your heart while you wait for God to act and work things out.
Therefore, be thankful, tell God what you need, and allow His peace to drive out fear and anxiety.
