The Path to Peace: What to Do with Worry

We don’t often treat worry like a serious problem. In Christian circles, it gets lumped in with sins we’ve grown comfortable with—like gossip or pride. But Jesus didn’t treat it that way. He said very clearly: “Do not worry.” This is not a suggestion, it’s a command. But yet we still struggle with it, why? Because worry feels like the right thing to do, it feels like caution. But it’s not caution, it’s deeper than that—worry is a trust issue. And unfortunately it reveals the fact that we question whether God is truly in control.

At its core, worry is the belief that our problems are bigger than God's promises. That’s not a small issue—that’s a major heart problem.

The Dangers of Worry

Worry is more than unpleasant, it’s dangerous. It can affect us physically, mentally, and spiritually. It paralyzes us, traps us, and slowly steals the most valuable thing we have as Christians—our peace.

Danger #1: Worry robs us of joy today because we’re stuck in the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Jesus reminds us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Jesus reminds us in The Sermon on the Mount that he takes care of the birds, which means he will most certainly take care of us—who are created in His own image.

Danger #2: Worry doesn’t change our circumstances—it only changes us.

It immobilizes us. It prevents us from trusting God or taking action. Martin Luther once said, “You can’t keep birds from flying over your head, but you don’t have to let them make a nest in your hair.” In other words: don’t let worry move in, paralyze you, and take over your life.

Danger #3: Worry adds nothing, it only takes away.

Jesus asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry is a silent thief. It’s an easy path to take, but it’s a dead end. It offers no solutions, only stress.

So, this begs the question…what do we do? Paul gives us the answer in Philippians 4.

“Rejoice in the Lord always... 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 minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:4-7

The Path to Peace

Paul’s words offer us a roadmap away from worry and towards peace. He gives us three actions: Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks.

1. Rejoice: Shift Your Focus

Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending things are fine. It means intentionally choosing joy—fixing your eyes on who God is, not what’s going wrong. Paul wrote this from prison so it’s very clear he wasn’t comfortable, but he was confident in God’s provision. The disciples often worried about what they didn’t have—bread, supplies, plans, etc. But Jesus kept reminding them: “You have Me.” Rejoicing shifts our focus from what we lack to who we follow.

2. Pray: Turn Panic Into Prayer

Worry tries to control what we can’t. Prayer is the opposite of control, it’s surrender. It’s not a backup plan—it should be our first response. Prayer connects us to the source of life. It isn’t about having the right words, it’s about having the right heart. Prayer has the ability to change us long before it changes our circumstances.

3. Give Thanks: Cultivate Gratitude

Gratitude is the ability to see what’s good even when life isn’t. Paul encourages us to bring our requests with thanksgiving. Gratitude reminds us of what God has already done and builds our faith for what He’ll do next. In my own journaling, I started to notice a shift. The things I prayed for eventually became the things I thanked God for. Peace didn’t show up overnight—but it came later as I continued to observe what’s good in my life.

The Promise

When we follow this path by Paul—when we rejoice, pray, and give thanks—something beautiful happens:

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:7

This is supernatural peace. Peace that doesn’t make sense. Peace that stands guard over your mind when fear tries to break in. Worry tells you, “You’re alone.” But faith whispers, “God is already here.”

Choose faith over fear. Choose peace over panic. Follow the path Paul laid out, and let God do what only He can do.