Anxiety and the Christian Life: Wrestling with Paul, Jesus, and Reality

Anxiety and the Christian Life: Wrestling with Paul, Jesus, and Reality

One of the most quoted verses in Philippians is Paul’s admonition: “Do not be anxious about anything” (Phil. 4:6). Many Christians take this as an absolute command, and when they inevitably feel anxious, they experience guilt on top of their worry. But what did Paul actually mean? And how does this line harmonize with the rest of Scripture — especially considering that both Paul and Jesus themselves experienced deep anguish? A closer look at the Greek terminology, the context of Philippians, and parallel passages reveals that “do not be anxious” is not a call to guilt-ridden perfection but to a posture of prayerful trust in the midst of a very human struggle.

The Greek Term Merimnaō (μεριμνάω)

The word Paul uses in Philippians 4:6 for “anxious” is merimnaō, which can mean “to be unduly concerned, to worry, to be pulled apart by cares.” Its root (merimna) conveys the idea of a divided mind. The command is not to deny all emotional concern, but to not let anxiety dominate, paralyze, or dictate one’s actions.

Interestingly, Paul uses the same root word elsewhere:

• In 2 Corinthians 11:28, he speaks of his daily merimna for all the churches — his concern for their well-being. Clearly, Paul did not consider all forms of “anxiety” sinful.

• In Philippians 2:28, he describes his own anxiety over Epaphroditus, who nearly died. Again, this was not condemned but simply part of the burden of love.

Thus, Paul is not commanding believers to live free of all emotional burden. He is contrasting paralyzing worry with trusting prayer.

Jesus and Anxiety

Jesus Himself said, “Do not be anxious about your life” (Matt. 6:25), yet in the Garden of Gethsemane He was “deeply distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:33). Luke adds that He was in such anguish that His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). The author of Hebrews even says, “He offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent fear” (Heb. 5:7, CEB).

This reveals that Jesus’ teaching on worry was not a denial of the human emotional experience of fear, but an invitation to entrust those fears to God’s provision and timing.

The Ideal Versus the Reality

When Paul and Jesus say, “Do not be anxious,” the statement functions much like our common phrase, “Don’t worry about it.” It expresses the ideal state of trust, even if human experience falls short. The biblical command should be read as an encouragement to redirect anxiety through prayer, thanksgiving, and trust — not as an unrealistic denial of normal human emotion.

The Theological Balance

1. Concern is not condemned. Paul’s merimna for the churches shows that genuine care is godly.

2. Fear is not sin. Jesus’ own fear in the garden displays that it is human to feel troubled.

3. Distracting, consuming worry is warned against. The call is to bring cares to God (Phil. 4:6–7), exchanging them for His peace.

Application

• Pray instead of spiraling. When anxiety strikes, prayer is the channel by which trust is renewed.

• Allow space for humanity. Both Paul and Jesus experienced anxiety, showing that it is not inherently sinful.

• Find comfort in God’s peace. The promise of Philippians 4:7 is not that anxiety will vanish but that God’s peace will guard our hearts in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

The command “Do not be anxious” is not a crushing burden but an invitation to live out of trust, even when fear intrudes. Paul himself experienced anxiety, as did Jesus in the garden. What matters is not the absence of emotional turmoil but the presence of faith that directs that turmoil back to God. Anxiety is real, but so is God’s peace — and His peace is stronger.