The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6–7

This verse is a recipe for going from anxiety to peace. God knows our worry is pointless. It does not change the circumstance nor help us cope with it.

But prayer changes things (James 5:16–18) and thanksgiving brings us hope in the midst of the trouble.

Why thanksgiving? In Scripture, talk of thanksgiving is often coupled with the phrase “to remember his steadfast love.” Its purpose is to remind us of all the times God has shown his love in the past; this fuels the faith that he will continue to show that love both now and in the future.

Thanksgiving is not a vague action, but an intentional recalling of specific acts of God’s faithfulness so that our trust is renewed. It’s why the Lord had the Israelites build monuments; they served as a visual reminder to them and future generations of his rescue and help (Joshua 4).

Prayer and thanksgiving guard our hearts and minds in Jesus, preventing the darts of doubt and fear from destroying our confidence in God.

When anxiety rears its ugly head—which is sometimes many times each day—remember this formula. Take it to the Lord over and over. Recall his past protection and provision as well as the ultimate salvation he guarantees in Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

We can be at peace not because all is calm, but because we know the God who calms the storm.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download