Stop Shaming People for Worry
If you’ve ever been in a toxic or unhealthy relationship, perhaps you understand what it means to “guard your heart.” You limit your time and energy with that person. If you’re feeling the toxicity of the election and polarization of our country, then perhaps you are guarding your heart against social media during this time. Our minds naturally create space to protect us from those things that hurt us. Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
One of the productive and positive ways of guarding our hearts is by talking to mental health professionals and surrounding ourselves with those who acknowledge the realities of depression and other disorders that cause so many to feel alone and imprisoned in confusion and despair. I have heard it said too many times, that the need for medications to manage feelings or emotions is weakness and not putting faith in God.
This is Wrong
Completely wrong, and I hope that this lesson from Paul today will help us see that.
Paul is writing from prison. I’ve never been to prison, but my mind can make the leap to what time in prison would do to my own mental health. Depression and despair, fear and isolation…I can imagine these things, so when I hear Paul’s words to the Philippians, I admit that at first, it feels confusing.
Paul’s letter is centered on joy, prayer, thanksgiving, and peace. He writes to encourage the Philippians to continue in what he has taught them, not because they were slipping – this is a letter of encouragement and praise. He asks them to help the women who have struggled beside him in the effort to bring the message of Christ to the people and to teach them to live in Christ’s example. He asks them to let their gentleness be known to everyone. He encourages them to continue in their efforts to be honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and commendable.
Now for the tricky part…
I remember having a conversation with my old boss about how worry is a sin. She dug deep in her lecture to me that worry is a sign of weakness and failure to trust God. Truthfully, as a high school senior at the time, her words fell on deaf ears.
She worried about everything and shopped to cope.
I couldn’t figure out how to reconcile life and “not worrying,” but I have watched and listened as so many people I love, beat themselves up for the same reasons.
Church – we must stop telling people they can control their own worry in a vacuum.
It just isn’t true and it is an abuse of scripture. It is wrong, and my boss was wrong. Paul isn’t beating the Philippians up for worrying. Instead, Paul is encouraging them to continue in those things that keep them pointed toward Christ. It isn’t their “job” to banish worry. It is their calling to stay pointed toward a loving and forgiving God and from that, peace will come. And friends, Paul is not talking about peace in the way the world describes it. The world might describe peace as the absence of conflict or hurt or worry – for that matter.
Y’all, Paul was writing from inside prison. In no way can we assume there was an absence of conflict or hurt or worry. Paul is not describing an individual experience of peace. He is building on the Old Testament’s concept of wholeness – shalom. This is peace, Paul says, that will surpass our understanding. This is not a peace you can manipulate with “tougher feelings” or by “ignoring emotions or people.” This is a peace that comes from God and God alone. This is a peace that comes from knowing that despite conflict and hurt, you are loved completely by God – that you belong.
Because Paul cares about the Philippians, he is encouraging them to continue in joy and prayer, thanksgiving and cooperation with each other. Paul encourages these practices because through them we remain pointed toward God. God never leaves us, but we need reminders to see it, to feel it, and to know it. Paul sends encouragement because Paul also knows that knowing God is with us can be fleeting. As the sinful human beings we are, we struggle to stay pointed toward Christ – and Paul knows that the best way to remain focused is through the community. Paul is praising the community, encouraging them to continue on together toward the cross, and from that, he rejoices that those he loves will continue in peace – knowing they are loved by God – that they belong. Thanks be to God.
prayer
God of peace, God of belonging, I create prisons of worry for myself. I turn from you in daily life attracted to the flashy things and expecting perfection from others. I turn away when they disappoint me. I believe I can do it alone. But Lord, I can’t. You give me a community to surround me, to encourage me, to care for me. Help me, this day and all days to recognize your love in the relationships that keep me pointed toward you in prayer, joy, thanksgiving, and cooperation. I ask all this in the name of the one who suffered on the cross that I might know peace. Amen
Philippians 4:1-9
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
New Revised Standard Version
Learn more about World Mental Health Day here.