“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4–9)
As we approach Thanksgiving, many of us find ourselves reflecting on gratitude, blessings, and the goodness of God. Yet for many believers this season also highlights another reality: the ongoing battle taking place within our hearts and minds. Holidays have a way of exposing what is happening beneath the surface. According to recent research, nearly three-quarters of people report feeling more anxious or more discouraged during the holiday season than at any other time of year. Scripture tells us that these struggles are not only emotional challenges, they are matters of the heart. They are spiritual battles.
Jerry Bridges, in his book Respectable Sins, reminds us that Christians often tolerate certain sins that seem subtle or ordinary. We may not be struggling with the obvious outward sins that society condemns. Yet sins such as discontentment, worry, irritability, and selfishness quietly take root in our heart. Bridges warns that many Christians have redefined sin so narrowly that we barely recognize the sinful patterns that live inside us. But the Lord sees them clearly.
Two of these often overlooked sins are discontentment and anxiety. Many of us battle these more than we realize. We may chalk them up to personality, circumstances, or simply the way we are wired. But Scripture calls them what they are: sinful issues of the heart . A lack of joy, a lack of peace, and a lack of contentment. And because they affect our hearts and minds so deeply, God addresses them directly through His Word.
Philippians 4:4–9 offers some of the most practical and hope-filled instruction for believers who long to experience joy and peace. Paul writes this letter from prison, yet he speaks more about joy here than in almost any other place in his writings. He shows us how the gospel shapes our inner-life, especially when circumstances are difficult. In this passage we find three battles every Christian must fight, especially in seasons like this one.
Paul begins with a command: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (vs. 4) At first glance that seems almost impossible. Do you remember where Paul is when he gives this command? He is sitting in prison. How can we rejoice when life is painful, uncertain, or overwhelming?
Paul gives the answer in the command itself. We are to rejoice in the Lord. Christian joy is not based on circumstances. It is rooted in a relationship with Christ that cannot be taken away. The world’s version of ‘joy’ rises and falls with circumstances. When life is pleasant, people feel happy. When life becomes difficult, the happiness disappears.
Christian joy is different. It is built on the unchanging truth of the gospel. God has saved us, redeemed us, forgiven us, adopted us, and promised to keep us to the end. That never changes. That cannot be taken away. Which means the ground of our joy never changes.
This is why Paul can command joy. Not because we are expected to manufacture a feeling, but because the gospel gives us lasting reasons to rejoice regardless of what we may face. As Don Carson writes, “Sometimes the Lord allows hard circumstances to teach us to shift the ground of our joy from created things to the Creator.” When we do, our joy becomes deeper and more durable than anything this world can offer.
Paul’s next instruction is just as challenging: “Do not be anxious about anything.” (vs. 6) Anxiety is one of the most common struggles believers face. It often reveals what we are believing about God. Anxiety whispers lies: God will not come through. God is not strong enough. God is not wise. God is not loving.” At its root, worry is actually a failure to trust the character of God.
So how do we battle anxious thoughts? Paul gives us the remedy. “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (vs. 6) The answer to anxiety is not trying harder not to be anxious. It is prayer. Prayer turns our eyes away from our circumstances and ourselves and fixes them on the Lord. Prayer reminds us of His nearness and His care (“The Lord is at hand,” vs. 5). Prayer is the act of placing all our burdens and worries into the hands of the One who carries them perfectly.
And Paul gives us a promise. When we pray instead of worrying, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 7) This peace is supernatural. It does not depend on circumstances. It stands guard like a fortress around our hearts. And it is only possible because Christ has brought us into peace with God through His cross so that now we can peace in the midst of any circumstance.
The Christian life is also a battle for the way we think. Paul tells us to meditate on what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy.” (vs. 8) In other words, fill your mind with the things of God. Fill your mind with the truth of Christ and His Word. Fill your mind with the promises God has made in His Word that are true.
Many believers today lack joy and peace because their minds are so saturated with the noise of the world rather than the promises of God. Paul calls us to intentional, careful, disciplined thinking. Fix your thoughts on Christ. Remember who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised. Recall His promises. Reflect on His character.
And again, Paul gives a promise. Not only will the peace of God guard your heart and mind, but “the God of peace Himself will be with you.” (vs. 9)
As we look toward Thanksgiving, remember that gratitude is not merely a feeling. It is the fruit of a heart rooted in joy, steadied by peace, and shaped by the truth of God’s Word. Whatever you may be facing this holiday season, the Lord is near. He invites you to rejoice in Him, cast your cares upon Him, and fix your mind on His truth.
And when you do, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. May that peace be yours in abundance this Thanksgiving.
