Just Relax. Be Anxious for Nothing

Just Relax

Be Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:6–7 (KJV)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Hey Friends!

I’m not sure about you, but lately I keep hearing these two words:

Just relax.

Just relax, Lauretta.

Stop trying to figure everything out.

Stop looking for the next thing that needs to be done.

Stop feeling like you always have to be moving.

Just… RELAX.

And for somebody who has spent the past year doing, going, working, planning, handling business, and making sure everything gets taken care of, relaxing can actually feel uncomfortable.

Isn’t that something?!?!

You would think having a moment where you don’t have to do anything would feel wonderful. But when you have been moving nonstop for so long, the moment things become quiet, your mind starts saying:

Okay…what am I supposed to be doing now?

And once again, I hear:

Just relax.

And I truly believe God is telling me that.

Because sometimes we can become so accustomed to the hustle and bustle of life that we don’t know what to do when God gives us permission to be still.

We know how to work.

We know how to push.

We know how to plan.

We know how to survive.

But do we know how to rest and trust God?

That’s different.

When Responsibility Turns Into Anxiety

Listen, life has responsibilities!

I want to make sure I stay ahead of things.

Electric bill—taken care of.

Rent—paid.

Student loans—handled.

Car note—paid.

Water and trash—taken care of.

You get it, right?!?!

I sure do!

There is nothing wrong with being responsible. We should take care of the things God has entrusted to us.

But there is a difference between being responsible and believing that everything depends on you.

Whew!

That right there will wear you out.

Because somewhere between “I need to handle my responsibilities” and “I have to make sure absolutely nothing goes wrong,” anxiety can quietly move in.

And suddenly we’re not just preparing—we’re worrying.

We’re not just planning—we’re fearing.

We’re not just thinking about tomorrow—we’re trying to control tomorrow.

And God says:

“Be anxious for nothing.”

But God…What Exactly Is “Nothing”?

I had to think about that.

Nothing means NOTHING.

Not the rent.

Not the car payment.

Not the unexpected bill.

Not tomorrow.

Not the thing you cannot control.

Not the door that hasn’t opened yet.

Not the answer you’re still waiting for.

Not the “What if this happens?”

And definitely not the “What if it doesn’t happen?”

God is telling us not to allow any of those things to consume our hearts and minds.

That doesn’t mean we pretend problems don’t exist.

It means we refuse to allow our problems to become bigger in our minds than the God who holds our lives.

That’s why the Scripture doesn’t stop at:

“Be anxious for nothing.”

God tells us what to do instead.

“But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

In other words:

Pray about EVERYTHING.

Why Make Our Requests Known to God?

Now, God already knows what we need before we ask Him.

So why pray?

Because prayer isn’t about informing God of something He doesn’t know.

Prayer reminds us where our help comes from.

When I take my concerns to God, I am saying:

“God, I trust You with this.”

“God, I need Your wisdom concerning this.”

“God, I surrender this outcome to You.”

“God, lead me because You can see what I cannot see.”

People can encourage us.

Pastors can pray with us.

Friends can support us.

Our jobs can provide income.

But ultimately, our confidence must rest in GOD.

Because jobs can change.

Money can fluctuate.

People can disappoint us.

Plans can fall apart.

But God remains God.

Prayer is an act of submission because every time I genuinely place something before God, I am acknowledging:

“Lord, I cannot control everything—and I was never supposed to.”

Maybe that’s what God means when He says:

Just relax.

Not:

“Do absolutely nothing.”

But:

“Stop trying to do MY part.”

Ohhhhh…there it is!

When Trust Requires Submission

God knows the way we should take.

And sometimes the path He chooses looks nothing like the path we would have chosen for ourselves.

We think we know the shortcut.

God knows the right road.

We see what is immediately in front of us.

God sees the destination.

We see inconvenience.

God may see protection.

We see delay.

God may see preparation.

We see a closed door.

God may see what was waiting for us on the other side of it.

That’s why Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Sometimes God will lead us down an unexpected road to bring us into something we never could have reached by following our own directions.

But here’s the question:

What hinders us from believing God enough to completely submit to Him during difficult seasons?

Sometimes it isn’t that we don’t love God.

Sometimes what we’re experiencing is challenging what we thought we knew about Him.

And that’s where the real battle begins.

Fear

We believe God, but fear whispers:

“What if God doesn’t do what you’re hoping He will do?”

Fear makes us want to grab control instead of surrendering it.

The Need to Understand Everything

We want God to explain everything before we obey Him.

Why this road, God?

Why this delay?

Why did You allow that?

Where are You taking me?

But sometimes God asks for obedience before He gives us understanding.

Faith says:

“I don’t understand this road, but I trust the One leading me.”

Control

Sometimes we trust God—as long as His plan resembles ours.

But what happens when it doesn’t?

Jesus demonstrated true surrender in Gethsemane:

“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42

True submission says:

“God, even if You choose differently than I would choose, I still trust You.”

Disappointment

Unanswered prayers, closed doors, losses, delays, and painful experiences can quietly affect our confidence in God.

We may still believe in God while struggling to believe God is working in this particular situation.

But disappointment cannot become the measuring stick for God’s faithfulness.

Impatience

Waiting can make us interfere with what God is doing.

When nothing appears to be happening, we start thinking:

Maybe I need to do something!

And sometimes God is saying:

No. You need to let ME do something.

Everything that looks inactive isn’t inactive.

God can be working behind the scenes while everything in front of you appears completely still.

Past Experiences

Yesterday’s pain can become today’s expectation.

Because something went wrong before, we begin expecting it to go wrong again.

But your past experience does not limit what God can do next.

Leave room for God to surprise you.

Walking by Sight Instead of Faith

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

Difficult circumstances can become louder than God’s promises.

Faith doesn’t mean denying what you see.

Faith means refusing to make what you see greater than the God you trust.

And maybe that’s where these two simple words become so powerful:

JUST RELAX.

Maybe God isn’t telling you to stop caring.

Maybe He isn’t telling you to abandon your responsibilities.

Maybe He’s telling you:

“You’ve done what you can do. Now stop carrying what belongs to Me.”

Because sometimes rest is an act of faith.

Sometimes waiting is an act of obedience.

And sometimes doing nothing except trusting God is the hardest form of submission there is.

So What Is God Really Saying When He Says, “Just Relax”?

Maybe “Just relax” isn’t God telling you to stop being responsible.

Maybe He’s telling you to stop being responsible for things that were never yours to control.

There comes a point when you have prayed.

You have planned.

You have worked.

You have done everything God has given you the ability to do.

And now?

Just relax.

That sounds easy, doesn’t it?

But for some of us, relaxing requires more faith than working!

Because when I’m working, I feel like I’m doing something.

When I’m planning, I feel like I’m accomplishing something.

When I’m moving, I feel like I’m getting somewhere.

But when God says, “Be still,” I have to trust that He is working even when I’m not.

And THAT is where faith gets tested.

Can you trust God when there is nothing left for you to do?

Can you trust Him when you don’t know what tomorrow looks like?

Can you trust Him when the answer hasn’t arrived?

Can you trust Him when your bank account doesn’t look like the promise?

Can you trust Him when the door hasn’t opened?

Can you trust Him when God isn’t explaining what He’s doing?

Can you sit still long enough to believe that God does not need your anxiety to accomplish His will?

Whew!

Because sometimes we’re wearing ourselves out trying to help God answer the very prayer we asked Him to handle!

We pray:

“Lord, I give it to You.”

Then five minutes later we’re picking it back up.

We pray:

“Lord, order my steps.”

Then we start creating our own directions.

We pray:

“Lord, Your will be done.”

Then we become frustrated because His will isn’t unfolding according to our timetable.

Maybe God is saying:

“Will you let Me be God?”

You Don’t Have to Figure Everything Out

There are going to be moments when you simply won’t know what comes next.

And that’s okay.

You don’t need to know everything when you know the One who does.

You don’t need tomorrow’s answers to have today’s peace.

You don’t need to see the entire road to take the next step.

And you certainly don’t have to carry tomorrow while you’re still living today.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34:

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

Tomorrow has enough waiting for you.

Don’t drag it into today!

Handle what God has placed in your hands today, and trust Him with what belongs to tomorrow.

And Then Comes the Peace

Here’s the part of Philippians 4 that we sometimes rush past.

After God tells us to be anxious for nothing…

After He tells us to pray…

After He tells us to make our requests known…

He gives us a promise:

PEACE.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Notice something.

The Scripture doesn’t say God will immediately change the situation.

It says He will guard your heart and mind.

Oh, that’s good!

Because sometimes before God changes what’s happening around you, He changes what’s happening inside you.

The bill may still be there.

The answer may still be coming.

The door may still be closed.

The decision may still be pending.

But somehow…

you’re not panicking anymore.

Somehow…

you’re sleeping again.

Somehow…

you’re not checking every five minutes.

Somehow…

you’re not trying to force the outcome.

Why?

Because peace walked into the place where anxiety used to live.

Aha Moment 💡

I think I finally understand what God may be saying when He tells me:

“Just relax.”

He’s not telling me to become lazy.

He’s not telling me to ignore my responsibilities.

He’s not telling me to stop preparing for my future.

He’s telling me:

“Stop carrying what you already gave Me.”

AHAAAA!

There it is!

Maybe the reason you’re tired isn’t because you’re doing too much physically.

Maybe you’re tired because you’re carrying too much mentally.

Trying to figure it out.

Trying to predict it.

Trying to prevent it.

Trying to control it.

Trying to make sure nothing goes wrong.

And God is standing right there saying:

“I never asked you to carry all of that.”

So today, I’m giving myself permission to JUST RELAX.

I’ll handle what God has placed in my hands.

I’ll pray about what I cannot control.

I’ll obey when He tells me to move.

I’ll be still when He tells me to wait.

And I’ll trust Him with everything in between.

Because rest doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

Sometimes rest is evidence that I finally believe He is.

So breathe.

Release it.

Pray about it.

Trust God with it.

And when you’ve done everything God told you to do…

Just relax.

God’s got the rest.

Until your next Aha Moment,

Lauretta Scott

Founder | iPublishub-Books

Publishing with Purpose & Faith