Although discouragement and anxiety are not exactly the same, stress and anxiety are surefire ways to get into a state of discouragement. By the way, if you feel a little tense, you are not alone. 70 percent of all American workers say they feel moderate to great stress on the job. Most - 54 percent - cite the demands of the job itself for their stress. Only ten percent blame their boss! (USA Today, 10/29/2002). So this is not some rare phenomenon or a challenge we can escape by changing our work location.
 
There is a peace one hears Christ-followers talking about. It is one of the fruits of a life that is consistently led and filled by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it can be swapped for the prevailing anxiety in the world.
 
The classic "peace passage" is Philippians 4:6-7, and it needs to be understood as a process that actually begins with us habitually rejoicing in the Lord:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
Just before this is verse 5:
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
 
"Gentle spirit" can be translated as a fair, reasonable, gracious demeanor. That demeanor is to be on display to all people. Now please notice what I think is critical. The Lord is near! This isn't referring to the end times or anything like that. It's talking about the "at-handness" of the Lord, as Jesus said, the Kingdom of God in our midst, all around us, in the "heavens." In other words, Paul is stating what centuries ago a guy who worked as a cook (Brother Lawrence) famously called "practicing the presence of God."
 
Paul is saying that what will enable you to get out of the anxiety mode and experience peace, and thus not treat people in the way anxious people tend to treat people, is to rejoice in the Lord all the time, and to practice the at-handness of God.
 
Allow the presence of Jesus at your workplace, in your cubicle, at your home office, at your job site, at wherever else, to chip away at your anxiety.
 

Lord Jesus, please help me come to grips with what You mean in Your teaching in Matthew 6:34:  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Thank You.  Amen.
 
 

1.  Do you find it easy or difficult to experience "the peace of God, which passes all comprehension" at work?
2.  In what ways can you make it easier to experience God's peace at work?
 

This WorkLife Coaching Session was written by Ed Noble, Teaching Pastor, Journey Community Church, San Diego, CA.   Used by permission.   All rights reserved.   Content edited and distributed by WorkLife.org for non-profit educational purposes.