Jesus does not want us to live anxious, afraid, or in internal or relational chaos. He came to set us free from the pull of sin and its devastating effects.
What might your life look like if you lived fully anchored in God’s truth and grace? How might this increase your peace and decrease your anxiety during difficult seasons? Imagine the unshakable confidence you could experience if you embraced every encounter and challenge, knowing God sees your heart, your hurts, and your greatest struggles, and longs to lead you to increased emotional and spiritual freedom.
The closer I grow to Christ, the more I understand His ways, and the more I learn to live by His truth, the greater my peace and joy. This has shaped the way I read the Bible, including Jesus’ so-called kingdom manifesto recorded in Matthew 5-7. You may know this section of Scripture as “the Sermon on the Mount” or the Beatitudes. One could also phrase these timeless life principles as the “keys for kingdom living” because they reveal what it looks like to bring a bit of heaven to earth (Matthew 6:10, NIV). As David Guzik from the Enduring Word states, in this profound teaching, “Jesus sets forth both the nature and aspirations of His kingdom.”
A Soul Prepared to Receive
Jesus began His message by highlighting where our spiritual journey begins—with complete dependence.
In Matthew 5:3, He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
In other words, those who recognize their need for God and let that need drive them to Him prosper in their souls. Consider the example and contrast presented in Luke 18:
To paraphrase, two men entered the temple, one an obvious sinner, the other a seemingly righteous religious leader. The latter, convinced that he’d “earned” right standing with God, uttered a cocky prayer in which he recounted reasons he felt superior to those he deemed ignorant and immoral, like the tax collector in Jesus’ story. The other man, driven by self-awareness and a desire for soul-deep absolution, “stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner’” (Luke 18:13, NIV).
Jesus concluded the story with these words: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (v. 14, NIV).
Humility isn’t feeling like a worthless worm but rather recognizing our need for Christ.
This isn’t just a necessary posture to receive salvation; it’s also an attitude, or awareness, that drives our ongoing connection with the Lord. In John 15:5, Jesus stated it this way: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (NIV).
The poor in spirit, then, are those who maintain a dependent relationship with the Lord. This best positions us to receive His strength and the peace of knowing we’re well cared for and perfectly led in each moment, particularly the painful and uncertain ones.
God’s Response to Our Pain
The more that mental health professionals study human flourishing, the more they recognize the value of connection. According to Christian psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson, a repeat guest on the Faith Over Fear podcast, “the human brain can do really hard things for a really long time, so long as it doesn’t do them alone.” In other words, during difficult seasons, we need to know we’re not alone in our suffering.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus assured us we will never be alone. The Lord sees every tear we cry and injustice suffered, meets us in them, and draws us into His loving embrace. As He stated in Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (NIV).
Because this verse directly follows Christ’s mention of the poor in spirit, many scholars believe verse 4 refers to those who grieve their sin. I see the connection, along with how understanding the state of our souls, when it turns us to Christ and enables us to receive His comfort. But that’s not the only time in which He surrounds us with His tender and merciful love. Throughout Scripture, our Father promises to see us when we’re hurting and respond with empathy and care.
According to Psalm 34:18: 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (NIV).
When asked to reveal His glory, the essence of who He is, this is how God described Himself: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness …” (Exodus 24:6, NIV).
This suggests, of all His attributes, these were the ones He most wanted us to understand. The Almighty is many things: all-powerful, all-knowing, and brilliantly wise, and Sustainer and Ruler of all that exists. We might find those traits frightening if they weren’t encompassed by His incomprehensible love for us, His imperfect and often faithless children. He wants us to recognize and live under His authority, absolutely. But He also longs for us to find shelter in His nurturing and protective grace. He wants us to know we’ll never face a hardship or crisis alone. Pause to reflect on His words in Isaiah 49:16, initially spoken to the ancient Israelites at the height of their rebellion: "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me" (NIV).
(If you’re currently going through a difficult season, you might find my latest Bible reading plan, “Hope for the Hurting”, helpful. Find it HERE on the YouVersion Bible app.)
The Joy of Self-control
Much of my anxiety over the years stemmed from relational stress, often exacerbated by instances when I handled myself poorly. I’ve led meetings in which team members’ “push back” triggered my defenses and caused me to “power up” rather than listen. I’ve snapped at loved ones when tired, overwhelmed, or “hangry.” Once, while in the middle of a particularly stressful season, I made a snide comment in an email that the recipient immediately forwarded to a dozen other writers. The shame this created made me want to withdraw from my calling and hide in self-isolation indefinitely.
While I’ve grown in this area, I’m still learning how to manage my emotions and words in uncomfortable situations. I’ve found that I much prefer the peace that comes from knowing I’ve honored Christ and my values, and, therefore, appreciate Christ’s words in Matthew 5:5.
Speaking to a group of impoverished and oppressed people who likely felt overwhelmed daily, He said: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5, NIV).
Modern English defines the meek as those who are overly passive and easily used or manipulated. But that’s not what Jesus means here. In the original Greek, meekness, sometimes translated as gentleness, refers to strength under control. Christ modeled this attribute throughout His life. The most vivid example, however, comes from the night before His death. When a detachment approached to arrest Him, we read:
"Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?' 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:4-6, NIV).
He clearly held the power in this situation. Scholars suggest that, in this moment, He allowed the soldiers to catch a glimpse of His divinity, which literally knocked them over.
Then, when one of His disciples sliced off a soldier’s ear, Jesus rebuked him, told him to put away his sword, and healed the man, stating: "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53, NIV).
A legion was a military unit that, officially, numbered 6,000 men. If meant literally, Jesus let them all know that, if He chose, He could defend Himself with over 72,000 powerful supernatural beings. Therefore, the authorities could only “seize” Him if He went willingly, which He did.
He maintained full control until His last breath. Through the Holy Spirit residing within us, we’re empowered to do the same (Galatians 5:23).
Pursuit of Relational Health
Years ago, my world temporarily came undone when I became aware of how I’d perpetuated the generational dysfunction learned from my family of origin. During that painful season, the Lord helped me see how some of my unhealthy behaviors had wounded my daughter and led to conflict and tension between us. Initially, this triggered significant anxiety, fueled by the fear that I’d irreparably fractured our connection.
Thankfully, through therapy and Christ’s faithful leading, she and I are learning to love one another well. Praise God, He’s healed and is healing our wounds, and He's removed the hostility that threatened to tear us apart, replacing our inner angst with peace and joy.
Through this, He reminded me afresh of His heart to see His children living in emotional, relational, and spiritual freedom. This is the purpose behind Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:9, where He said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (NIV).
When Scripture speaks of peace, shalom in Hebrew and eiréné in Greek, it’s indicating the wholeness that occurs “when all essential parts are joined together.” My pastor once defined this as “rightness” and “when things are as they should be." Therefore, they adhere to God’s design. Peacemakers, then, are those who’ve experienced the Lord’s transformative healing and have become instruments of healing for others. This involves sharing the gospel that brings soul-deep renewal and furthering Jesus’ peace-bringing truths. Churches often refer to this as discipleship, and it’s a major part of our calling as sons and daughters of Christ.
All of Scripture, the beatitudes included, point to this unchanging truth: Jesus does not want us to live anxious, afraid, or in internal or relational chaos. He came to set us free from the pull of sin and its devastating effects. The Lord’s timeless and profound message recorded in Matthew 5-7 furthers this mission and provides a clear summary of the type of life He wants for us. The Sermon on the Mount also speaks hope to weary, hurting, and fearful souls by igniting our hope for heaven, where God’s children will fully enjoy every promise tucked within this beautiful teaching.
Photo Credit: ©PetarPaunchev from Getty Images via Canva Pro
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
