28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
“and that I may be less anxious.”
Let’s let that sit a minute.
The apostle Paul who declares in Philippians 4:6, “don’t be anxious”, and who a couple of chapters before that declaration, talks about the anxiety of his coworker Timothy and the depression of his other coworker Epaphroditus — is now letting us in on the reality that he has wrestled with anxiety. And his praying that it may be lessened.
It’s not only a stunning letter in this regard, but a stunning few verses:
2:20 — Timothy’s anxiety (mermimnao)
2:26 — Epaphroditus’s depression (ademoneo)
2:28 — Paul’s anxiety (alypoteros) — notice a new Greek word for anxiety has been introduced into the letter.
This tells me a few things right away.
That anxiety, and actually mental health itself, is quite complex. One’s struggle with it is not to be judged, but rather entered into.
Context is critical. Any of these verses taken out of context can lead us in wrong directions, with inappropriate judgements.
The author of the letter writes from his own experience. He has the authority to talk about anxiety because he wrestles with it himself, and people in his community do as well.
Knowing these few things I hope, helps many who flippantly throw the recitation of Philippians 4:6 as a salve for those suffering with anxiety, to rethink their positions and come at anxiety with fresh eyes and a new perspective.