The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
It has been said that worrying is like rocking in a chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn’t accomplish anything. Humorous, but true.
Philippians 4:6 says to “not be anxious for anything…” Being anxious or worrying, emotionally are two different things, but in the Greek they both have the same meaning. They mean to be divided, pulled in different directions, or distracted by cares. When this happens, we are torn apart and don’t know what to do about a particular situation. This is when we need to seek God’s wisdom.
This is why Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” James 1:5 -8 adds, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways.”
“Without reproach” means God is not going to say to you, “I don’t like what you did yesterday, so I am not going to give you the wisdom you asked for.” His grace is the giver of wisdom.
To be double-minded means to have divided interests or purposes, resulting in inner conflict or hesitation, like being tossed by waves, unable to fully commit to something, or caught between two opposing desires.
Philippians 4: 7 says that when we are not anxious about anything, but pray and are thankful, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
What does it mean that peace will guard our hearts and minds? It will protect our emotions and thinking from negative and destructive thoughts. We won’t react in an impulsive manner. Peace will free up our minds and emotions to be open to God‘s wisdom.
“God wants us to turn to him with every difficult or complicated decision we face. This means admitting that our perspective is limited. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. We can’t see around the bend in the road-but he can. How many times in our lives do we experience a jostling within, a sense that something is not quite right, but we don’t know what it is? This is the time to come away and seek the Lord. We need to get away to our heavenly Father and say, ‘what is this all about? Are you trying to tell me something? Lead me by your Spirit in the path I should go. Show me things I cannot see with my natural eyes. If we would stay in God‘s Presence a little longer and listen, He would pour out His heart in mind to us. He would tell us invaluable insights into our circumstances. He would counsel us on some family problem or testy relationship at work. He would reveal whether we should say yes or no to a present opportunity. We need His guidance and the good news is that He is more than willing to give it if I ask in faith.” (1)
1. Jim Cymbala, You Were Made For More, Zondervan, 2008, pgs 100-101
