Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Paul writes this line from prison. He tells his friends to stop carrying anxiety about anything at all. The command sounds impossible until you see what comes with it. God gives a place to put every care, a way to put it there, and a promise of what He returns.
Not the same as carelessness
The instruction removes worry, not responsibility. One writer draws the line:
First, "Do not be anxious about anything." That does not mean being careless about anything. God expects us to use proper, sensible foresight. But we are not to sink under the weight of carrying what God would carry for us. There are circumstances beyond our control. The way out is a difficulty we cannot overcome in our own strength. Then leave it with God.
Written by a man under pressure
This is not advice from someone with an easy life. The writer knew the weight of the things he was telling others to set down:
Here the Apostle's exhortation has in view the circumstances of life. He knows that in a world of sorrow and sickness, of need and care, we will face trials and carry burdens. But he does not want us tearing our hearts apart over them. He writes from a prison. He had gone without, and a fellow-worker had been sick almost to death. Yet in these sad circumstances God lifted him above all anxious care, so he can say to others, "Do not be anxious about anything."
Nothing, everything, anything
The size of what we refuse to worry over matches the size of what we may bring to God.
A thousand small matters in our lives have no clear link to the Name and interests of Christ. Even so, we are free to bring them to God. In fact He tells us to. As we do so we may be in the enjoyment of the peace of God. We may be anxious as to nothing, because prayerful as to everything, and thankful for anything.
Every care has a matching care in God
The things that trouble us stir God's care for us:
"Do not be anxious about anything," Phil. 4:6. That is simple to say. But what — not be concerned about the state of the church, or about the pressure of a family? Do not be anxious about anything. Whatever creates a care in us creates God's care for us. So "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Three words, three actions
"Prayer," "supplication," and "thanksgiving" are not repetitions of one idea. Each does its own work:
The first, translated "prayer," tells us of prayer in general — of any address to God. The second, "supplication," tells of prayer for particular needs or benefits. We use the first word only of prayer to God; the second we may also use towards other people. The first may include worship, as we come to God in prayer; whereas the second is what we want from God. And let us not forget, for Paul never forgot, that all is to be with "thanksgiving."
Why thanks belongs inside the request
Thanksgiving is not decoration added at the end. It changes what the asking itself is:
So they could use prayer and supplication about everything — but with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving keeps the prayer from voicing unbelief or complaint. It also builds confidence in praying to One whose answers have already been clear.
Told to God — and to no one else
Two things in this chapter are to be "made known," and each has its own audience:
Better not make them known to people; it is a dangerous snare. By all means make them known to God. There is something people should see, and that is your not fighting for your rights. "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone." "Let your requests be made known to God."
What God guarantees
The promise attached is not that God grants every request. It is something else:
Will He answer the requests? Will He remove the trial? He may see that to answer the request, or remove the trial, would not be for our good. In the trial itself, He will act in perfect wisdom and perfect love for our good. But this God will do: He will relieve our hearts from the burden of the trial. If we pour out our hearts before Him, He will pour His peace into our hearts.
Summary
- Nothing — God bans anxiety, not foresight; the ban is on carrying what He would carry for you.
- Everything — the door is as wide as the ban: small worries and great trials alike, told plainly to God.
- Anything — thanksgiving goes into the asking, not after it. It keeps the prayer free of complaint and unbelief.
- To God — requests go to Him; what people are meant to see from you is gentleness, not your grievances.
- Peace — the trial may stay and the request may be refused; the burden of it is what God lifts off the heart.