How Rejoicing in God's Presence Helps Overcome Anxiety

How can rejoicing in God help overcome anxiety?   In this episode of Life as Worship, Angela talks with Dr. Gladys Childs—pastor’s wife, author, former religion professor, “boy mom,” and host of the TV show Bare Faith, where raw faith and deep pain meet a relentless God. Together they unpack Philippians 4:4–5 and explore what it really means to “rejoice in the Lord always,” to let gentleness be evident to all, and to cling to the nearness of God in seasons of anxiety, grief, and uncertainty.   Episode Highlights In chapter 4, Paul moves into a string of tender commands—“rejoice,” “let your gentleness be evident,” “do not be anxious”—showing that the Christian life is not denial of pain but defiant faith rooted in an unchanging God. Rejoicing vs. happiness: Happiness depends on what’s happening; it rises and falls with circumstances. Joy is anchored in who God is—His unchanging goodness, faithfulness, and presence—so it can exist in the middle of prison, grief, caregiving, and long seasons that “do not let up.” Practical rejoicing: Gladys describes being naturally anxious and control‑oriented, and how anxiety pulls her into “I have to fix this.” Learning to pause, tell God the truth about her fear, and remind herself “the Lord is near” begins to loosen anxiety’s grip and re-center her on communion with God rather than control. Great Quotes from the Episode “Happiness reacts to the moment, but joy responds with truth.” “Whatever the worst thing is that we can imagine, the last thing is never the worst thing when Christ is part of it.” “When I wallow, I go down a deep dark hole and start making decisions I shouldn’t. Rejoicing redirects my attention from ‘I must control this’ to communion with God.” “Our witness is so much bigger than we can ever imagine. In the difficult times, when we’re really in tune with God and gentle with others, we make the most powerful witnesses for Christ.” “Life is for the living. God doesn’t want you stuck in grief forever; He wants you rejoicing in what He gave and resting in where your loved ones are now.” Scriptures Mentioned Philippians 4:4–5  Philippians 4:6–9  Lamentations 3  Connect with Dr. Gladys Childs Website & Resources: gladyschilds.com – learn more about Bare Faith, her books, speaking, and free tools to help you confront lies and live in God’s truth. Life as Worship Newsletter For episode updates, Scripture-rich encouragement, and tools to help you rethink your thinking and live all of life as worship, you can subscribe here.