Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to G-d;
and the peace of G-d, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:6-8
Followers of The Way, how hard it is to keep ones mind from falling away, how hard it truly is to be centered and focused on virtuous things when our surroundings and circumstances are generally not so. We all go through periods of doubt, some of us are oblivious to how much we actually doubt, and we are quick to claim that we are strong in faith, but the words and actions that pour forth are far from walking in faith. We like to hide our feelings because we want to seem pious and holy, but a real pious and holy person isn't one who hides doubt, failure, and struggle, a truly humble person admits struggle and admits when they are in the wrong. We must be prayerful for guidance, and in times where we feel we hear nothing from G-D doesn't mean He isn't there, it could very well mean that His silence is the answer, that you already know the actions required... so walk in it.
Having concern and worry doesn't make you less of a believer, it just makes you human, but it is what you do with the concern and worry that matters. The first priority is to completely surrender it to G-D, and that is more than just proclaiming it to Him, it is fully trusting in the fact that G-D is who He says He is and if we trust in Him... He will not only ease our minds but will guard our hearts from further bitterness towards the situation. The situation that causes worry and stress may still remain and not be quickly solved but if we truly depend and trust in G-D we should be confident and strive forward no matter what is going on.
We may prayerfully speak our worries to G-D, and our doubts but we don't actually fully surrender it to Him... because what we really want is for Him to completely fix and take away what causes the worry and when He doesn't we go right back into the state of mind before we sent our petitions to Him. Faith isn't an easy road, and having stress and doubt is opportunity to trust fully on our G-D, to not let the bitter seed of these doubts and worries grow but to understand no matter what happens, even if our biggest fear comes true, that G-D has a purpose and a plan in it, and we must submit and trust in HIM, to rest in whatever comes because we know G-D is bigger than our circumstances and that He is our shelter, our rock, our peace even in chaos.
It is all easier said then done. To think on virtuous, pure, lovely and noble things in times of major struggle is a process that is going to take our utmost, it's going to be a battle of fighting our flesh, even more so then we are usually. In this fight we are going to be drained physically and emotionally which will make it hard to keep fighting, for it is easier to just give up and let our minds run wild with negative thinking and even anger but this doesn't solve or help the situation but only adds fuel to it's fires, we can never be the ones in control of renewing our minds, we may be self willed and strong in positive thinking, and appear before others as strong, but G-D is the only one we should worry about how we are appearing. It's not about the power of positive thinking that makes you an overcomer it's about the total surrender of your mind, body and soul to G-D who will then, through the spirit, make you sufficient, it is about ultimate reliance on HIM. Notice how in Philippians the first requirement is to go to G-D in supplication and prayer, to fully come and trust in Him and then you will be able to fully think of positive things because G-D is the ultimate positive we should be focused on, and though we may be able to think positive without Him...we will never understand or have full peace of mind without HIM.
