Hope for the Anxious

Keith Groves

December 1, 2019

10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)

Worry is an intense desire for something, accompanied by a fear of the consequences of not receiving it. —John Piper

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:2-9 (ESV)

1. SITUATION

2. SOLUTION

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Titus 3:10-11 (ESV)

Celebrate God’s Goodness

Ask for God’s Help

Leave Your Concerns with God

Meditate on Godly Things

1. CELEBRATE GOD’S GOODNESS

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(vs. 4)

2. ASK FOR GOD’S HELP

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
(vs. 5-6)

I have yet to meet a chronic worrier who enjoys an excellent prayer life. —D.A. Carson

3. LEAVE YOUR CONCERNS WITH GOD

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(vs. 7)

4. MEDITATE ON GODLY THINGS

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)