Teaching Summary: Interrupting Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6–7

Anxiety is part of life.

It shows up in our bodies, our thoughts, and our relationships—whether it’s a sudden panic or a slow, familiar hum in the background.

And while anxiety itself isn’t sin, the way we respond to anxiety will either keep us stuck in fear… or help us grow in love.

That’s why the apostle Paul doesn’t just tell us to “stop being anxious.”

He gives us a way forward:

Bring it to God.

Name what you’re feeling.

Pray.

Ask for what you need.

And don’t forget to give thanks along the way.

When we respond this way, something beautiful happens.

The peace of God—which makes no sense to the anxious mind—will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

But to experience that peace, we have to recognize when anxiety is present.

We have to learn to interrupt it.

Because here’s the truth:

Much of our anxiety is driven by false stories and old coping strategies—ways of surviving that once kept us safe but now keep us stuck.

We often default to control, over-functioning, blame, withdrawal, or people-pleasing.

And those responses may protect us for a moment,

but they don’t lead to peace—

and they don’t make us more like Jesus.

So what do we do?

We practice interrupting anxiety.

We learn to recognize what’s happening, release it in safe and healthy ways, and re-center on what’s true.

We imagine living from our values.

And we invite others to walk with us in the process.

This is how we begin to live in the peace that Jesus promised.

Peace is not the absence of anxious thoughts—

It’s the presence of Jesus, shaping how we respond.