Healthy Diversions

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

We’ve all been there — those tense stretches when we’re waiting for something to unfold, and we have no idea how it will turn out. Time seems to slow down, and we look for anything to help us get through the waiting. We might pace the floor, scroll through our devices, or sit and stew over what we can’t change. And sometimes, we’re tempted to reach for diversions that aren’t so healthy.

Paul’s words in Philippians don’t deny the reality of anxiety. He doesn’t pretend we can simply switch it off. Instead, he invites us into a different kind of turning — a redirection of our attention that opens space for God’s presence. 

“In every situation,” he says, bring what weighs on you into conversation with God. Not with clenched teeth or frantic energy, but with thanksgiving — a posture that gently widens our vision beyond the thing we fear. This isn’t spiritual avoidance; it’s a holy interruption. A way of breaking the cycle long enough for peace to find us.

Healthy diversions can become part of that holy interruption. A slow walk. A few deep breaths. Naming three things we’re grateful for. Washing a few dishes. Listening to a song that uplifts and encourages. 

These small practices don’t replace prayer — they make room for it. They loosen the grip of worry just enough for us to remember that we’re not carrying our burdens alone. They help us shift from spiraling inward to looking upward to the One from which our strength comes.

So, today, when anxiety tightens its hold, try a gentle diversion that leads you toward God rather than away. Let it interrupt the worry long enough for you to breathe, to pray, to give thanks. Trust that even the smallest turning can open the door to the peace Paul promises — a peace that doesn’t wait for circumstances to resolve before it arrives.

God of peace, meet us in the moments when our minds race and our hearts tighten. Give us the wisdom to choose diversions that steady us and draw us closer to you. Interrupt our worry with your presence and help us turn our anxious thoughts into prayer and gratitude. Let your peace guard our hearts and minds today. Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim