Anxious care or worry — the divided mind pulled in multiple directions, contrasted with the single-minded trust Paul commands in Philippians 4:6.
The Greek merimna (from merizō, to divide + nous, mind) literally means a divided mind — the state of being pulled in multiple directions by worry. It appears in Matthew 13:22 (the thorns that choke the word are 'the worries (merimna) of this life'), Luke 21:34 (do not let merimna weigh down your hearts), 1 Peter 5:7 ('Cast all your merimna on him because he cares for you'), and 2 Corinthians 11:28 (Paul's daily burden: 'the care (merimna) for all the churches').
Jesus identifies merimna as one of the three great soil-destroyers (Matthew 13:22) — thorns that choke the word of God. The anxious person is not evil; they are simply divided — pulled between trust in God and fear of circumstances. Paul's remedy in Philippians 4:6 is precise: 'Do not be anxious (merimnate) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' The antidote to divided-mind anxiety is concentrated prayer — bringing the divided concerns into the single focal point of God's presence. The peace that follows (hē eirēnē tou Theou) guards the mind that prayer has unified.