peace

How do we understand the peace of God? Isaiah says it is perfect peace. The apostle John tells us it differs from the peace of the world and Paul tells us it is beyond understanding. Paul gives his Philippian followers the key to finding it.

Echoing the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter 6, Paul tells them to be anxious about nothing. Don’t even open the door. Do this instead he tells them. Pray about everything. Get specific with God. Tell him the details of what is troubling you. Do it with thanksgiving.

A heavy heart can crowd out a thankful one. Talking to God in prayer lifts us to look to Him. Looking to Him gives us many reasons to be grateful even when our hearts are heavy. Knowledge that His ears are open to us because of Jesus, can begin that process in us. The prayers of Jesus Himself consisted of blood, sweat and tears. Those prayers enabled Him to endure the cross for our redemption. We lay our burdens at His scarred feet.

In Romans Paul writes:

“He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him, freely give us all things?”

The apostle John writes.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.“

A perfect, peace, beyond understanding, unlike that of the world is God’s provision for His own.

“the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

What a promise!

There is a day coming in February known as “Blue Monday”. It is considered to be the most depressing day of the year. Shorter daylight hours and lack of sunshine are believed to be the reasons for this bleakness.

You and I both know that sad emotions are not stuck to a particular day or season. They come with difficult times and circumstances within which we find ourselves. They can come upon us unexpectedly. They come no matter who we are or where we live. Difficult times come and with them troublesome emotions. I believe that we can build an emotional safety raft that will sustain us during these overwhelming storms.

In Philippians 4, the writer Paul gives us some direction.

He tells us to rejoice. He says to rejoice always. Make it a habit. Find something to be happy about. Is the sun shining? Do you have friends? Do you have your vision? Make rejoicing your daily decision. ” Rejoice in the Lord always.”

“Let your gentleness be known to all men”, Be patient in your circumstances. Establish your hearts and don’t grumble against one another. Each season has a beginning and an end. Know the goodness of God, and bless your loved ones. Learn all you can from these times: who you are and who God is.

“Be anxious for nothing”, pray, ask for what you need in earnestness and with humility, do it with a thankful heart. Give God your requests and know that God hears and answers prayer. The great promise of God’s peace accompanies this directive. A peace unlike the world’s, a peace we cannot understand, a peace which will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

“Finally,” Paul says: ” Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” There is great power in what we set our minds on; power that can give life to fear or anxiety, or empowerment to faith and courage.

Jesus tells us that in the world we will have trouble but to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. In our trouble He is the rock on which we stand, the anchor to our soul, a hiding place, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. By establishing a safety raft by following Paul’s directives in Philippians 4, the power of the storm will be less daunting. So onward go, in grace and love, amidst the waves or calm, remember God is with you, an ever living balm.

God’s Peace

Winter Blues