Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
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The Setting
Philippians 4:6 stands at the close of an epistle written by a prisoner who has just told the saints to "rejoice in the Lord alway." Against that backdrop the verse hands the believer a divine prescription for every kind of inner pressure: anxiety is forbidden, prayer is the resource, and thanksgiving is the spirit in which it is offered.
"Be careful for nothing" — the absolute word
The opening command admits no exceptions. It strips away every excuse the heart might put forward.
J. A. TrenchOne absolute word, "Be careful for nothing." "Ah!" says some one, "if you only knew my circumstances you would know that it was perfectly impossible for me to be without care." But does not He who inspired this word know every circumstance of yours, beloved brother or sister? It is God who says to you, "Be careful for nothing."
The principle behind the command is that anxiety in the saint and care in God answer to one another:
J. N. DarbyWhatever produces a care in us, produces God's care for us; therefore "be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
"In everything" — nothing too small, nothing too great
The scope is total. The promise is not removal of the trial but freedom from its weight.
Hamilton SmithThe Apostle faces the many things that in a world of change and need may give the believer occasion for care and anxiety... It is not simply "some things" or "difficult things" but "everything" is to be taken to Him – the small worries as well as the great trials. Whatever weighs upon the spirit at the moment, whatever fills us with dread and foreboding as we think of the morrow, all is to be poured into the ear of God.
Hamilton SmithTo be "careful for nothing" does not mean that we are careless about anything, but that, instead of being continually worried by the cares of the day and the fear of to-morrow, we pour out our cares to God, and He pours the balm of peace into our souls.
Prayer, supplication, and the place of thanksgiving
Three words mark the manner of approach. Thanksgiving is critical, because it is the language of confidence even before the answer arrives.
J. A. TrenchBut I have omitted a clause, "with thanksgiving" — how important as to the state of the soul! giving thanks, not for the answer that we expect (He has something far greater than this for us), but because we know His love; we have the only gauge and measure of it, in that He has not spared His own Son but given Him up for us all... It is the normal expression of the Christian's confidence in the heart of God.
"Let your requests be made known unto God" — not unto men
The verse deliberately contrasts the prior verse (your moderation made known to men) with this one (your requests made known to God).
William KellyBetter not make them known to men; it is a dangerous snare. By all means let them be made known unto God... "Let your requests," whatever they may be, "be made known unto God;" and not only so, but "with thanksgiving." You may be perfectly sure of an answer when you make known your requests: therefore let it be with thanksgiving.
We are even free to lay before Him desires that may not match His mind, trusting Him to sort them out:
Hamilton SmithThe requests may not be for our good, they may not be according to the mind of God; they may even be foolish, but we are to make them known to God.
What the verse does not promise — and what it does
The verse does not guarantee that every request will be granted. It guarantees something better: peace.
C. H. MackintoshAnd what then? Does Paul say, "You shall immediately receive what you ask for?" No, but "The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This is a most precious word... He loves to have us coming to Him about all our little matters and resting in the happy assurance that He will do what is right and give us what is good. Whether He gives or withholds, His peace shall guard our hearts and minds.
Summary
- Absolute command. "Be careful for nothing" leaves no loophole; God who speaks knows every circumstance and forbids anxiety.
- Total scope. "Everything" includes both small worries and great trials — nothing is too trifling to bring to God.
- Thanksgiving included. We thank Him, not for the expected answer, but because His love is already proven in giving His own Son.
- God, not men. Requests belong to God's ear; spreading them before men is a snare.
- The real promise. The verse does not guarantee the answer we want, but the peace of God guarding heart and mind through Christ Jesus.