Anxiety comes because we fear what might happen next. Because the Lord is at hand, we can rejoice. There is no need for anxiety. No matter what happens, the Lord is the Lord.
Paul wrote these words in the context of imploring two women he loved to be of one mind. To stop disputing. To come together in unity.
We often dispute because we are fearful. We seek control. We demand a particular outcome, and if someone is standing in our way, we oppose them.
When we step back and see a broader perspective, we see that the Lord has all things under control. So we can rejoice.
We can also petition God and leave it in His hands. God is available. It is a beautiful reality that the Lord is at hand.
In the midst of Job’s suffering, he requests an audience. Moses enters the temple. Jesus sought solitude to pray.
When we take this perspective, it leads to a lifestyle of “reasonableness.” We are not demanding. We don’t need to quarrel. We can strive while holding results loosely. We can lay our fears at the feet of God, and know that our concerns will be well provided. For the Lord is at hand.