And the Peace of God...

“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 surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The problem: anxiety. How often are we accosted by anxious fears and concerns? It’s an everyday occurrence, common to all. Anxiety can (and often does) lead to great distress, rendering us unable to function to our God-given capacity.

The method: prayer. But don’t miss the adjectives which describe just what type of prayer this is: “Supplication” is including, and “with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” This is believing prayer.

The result: peace. Not just peace but God’s peace. Not just peace with God but the peace of God. The peace, we are told, “will guard you hearts and your minds.” That speaks of a stabilizing effect on our lives, our emotions. The heart is the center of our emotional makeup, and when the peace of God radiates its comforting light in our hearts, there is tranquility and peace on the inside of our lives.

Men seem to be caught up in getting to the top, making it big, pushing, achieving, doing. All this activity, struggle, and accompanying strife breed anxiety, fear, guilt, and frustration. Then men spend the rest of their time trying to find tranquility and peace. How tragic that the One Who offers real peace is most often cast aside as unable to meet that critical need when He alone can provide it.

“He hideth my life in the depths of His love and covers me there with His hand.”