Other Articles in this Series:
A Good Kind of Anxiety
How Can We Enjoy the Peace of God?
Five Essential Practices for Overcoming Anxiety, Part 1: Rejoice Always in the Lord
In the last few articles, we’ve learned that doing battle with anxiety requires more than just praying and waiting. In Philippians 4:4-9, God provides us with five practical disciplines that we must implement if we are going to wage successful warfare against anxiety and consistently enjoy the peace of God.
While it may not be immediately apparent how these instructions relate to a discussion on overcoming anxiety (particularly verses 4-5 and 8-9), once you start to ponder each individual instruction, you begin to see how effective (and essential) each practice is to experiencing the supernatural peace of God.
In the last article, we considered Paul’s instruction to rejoice in the Lord always (v. 4). In today’s article, we will linger over Paul’s words, “let your reasonableness be known to all” (v. 5a)
Let Your Reasonableness Be Known To All
The word translated “reasonableness” in the ESV could just as easily be translated “gentleness.” It’s translated that way throughout most of the New Testament. The NASB translates this word in Philippians 4:5 as “gentle spirit.” The NIV translates it as “gentleness.” These are sound translations.
What is the instruction here? Paul is telling us to conduct ourselves with all people in a way that is neither angry nor aggressive, pushy or obnoxious. To let our gentleness be known to all is a call to never let bitterness or vengeance flavor our interactions with others. Gentleness is characterized by patience, compassion, and an unwillingness to return evil for evil.
Of course, gentleness is always convictional—we never compromise the truth. Elsewhere, Paul calls this speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). And some situations may require the use of physical force (as in the case of self-defense) or verbal force (as in the case of false prophets, see 2 Peter 2:1ff). Nevertheless, on the whole, the Christian should be one who is known for their gentleness (see also James 3:13-17).
Gentleness and God’s Supernatural Peace
How does this practice relate to enjoying the peace of God? Put simply: our hearts and minds will not be resting in God when we are full of anger toward other people. We must keep in mind that how we treat others does have an effect on our relationship with God. We cannot separate these two relationships, assuming that we can maintain a close walk with God, enjoying his supernatural peace, while cultivating animosity toward other people.
I’ve met professing Christians who I would characterize as angry people. They may claim to direct their anger at what they perceive to be righteous causes, but the overall tenor of their life is one of resentment, hostility, and argumentativeness. While there certainly is a place for righteous anger in the Christian life (see my article here), it is a sign of spiritual sickness if someone is constantly annoyed and irritated at other people. Actually, it’s presumptuous to conclude that you have a close walk to God if you are always angry with people.
Paul writes to the Colossians, speaking of the sin that used to characterize them as unbelievers. “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:8). The opposite of gentleness is unrighteous anger. It is impossible, then, to enjoy God’s supernatural peace when we are nursing a heart of bitterness toward others. Indeed, an angry person is often an anxious person.
The apostle John says plainly, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” While the emphasis in this verse is the love we must have toward other believers, the principle of love can be applied more broadly (see especially 1 John 4:7-12). “The anger of man,” James reminds us, “does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). In other words, you cannot be constantly angry at others or store up bitterness toward friends, family, classmates, or fellow colleagues and think you can also enjoy the supernatural peace of God. Your conscience will be defiled and burdened by your sinful anger, and your heart won’t be rightly prepared to enjoy the peace of God. Only a gentle spirit is a peaceful spirit.
The Lord is at Hand
What motivates this gentle spirit toward others? The next phrase tells us: “The Lord is at hand” (Phil 4:5b). Paul wants the spiritual nearness of Christ and his impending return to influence how we treat others. If we live hourly in the presence of Christ, walking in the fear of the Lord and anticipating his return, we will be gentle with people. Why? Because we will be regularly reminded that we’ve been forgiven an infinite debt—how can we not be gentle with others (see Matt 18:21-35)? We will also become more aware of the reality that we will someday stand before the holiness of Jesus Christ and answer for how we conducted our lives. This should have a humbling effect on our souls (Matt 24:45-51). A gentle heart that consciously lives in the presence of God will be a heart that is conducive to enjoying God’s supernatural peace.
God’s supernatural peace is a gift. It cannot be earned by our religious works or grasped with natural hands. Nevertheless, God has designed the way by which we can experience this peace. There are several essential practices we must employ to consistently overcome our anxiety and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. The first practice is to rejoice in the Lord. The second is to let our gentleness be known to all. Prayer, though not the only discipline we must apply, is indispensable. We will take up this topic in the next article.
