The peace of God, surpassing all – 4 November 2020

Paul surely complicates our lives from his jail cell in Rome! First, he tells us to always rejoice in the Lord because he is near. Now he asks not to be anxious about anything. We want to start arguing with him until we remember where he is when he is writing this letter. His trial could come up any day and he could soon face an executioner. That would make me a bit anxious! But not Paul. Because, as he reminded us in verse 5: Christ is near. We are walking our path of life with him. He always knows exactly how we are doing in life. We are never out of his reach. He is always within earshot of a prayer. Paul exhorts us not to be anxious about ANYTHING. He calls on us to present our requests to God in every situation. We are always in touch with God through prayer, no person can hinder that. We do it through petition; it helps us to remain humble, to always remember how dependent we are on God. We do it through thanksgiving, trusting God that he knows exactly what we need to live and to serve him with gratitude.

Verse 6 gives us the key to happiness in life that every human being is searching for. Every one of us seeks the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds. We want to know that we are secure in God’s hands. We want to know that our lives matter; that suffering has a purpose. We don’t want to be anxious about anything when thinking about our present situation or when planning for our future. The answer to this peace comes through a life of prayer, where we learn to present all requests to God. We learn to take our fears and worries to him – and leave it there.

Jesus came to this world as the Prince of Peace. He came to mediate the peace between God and man. He came to heal our broken relationships and bring peace with our fellow man. He came to restore our inner peace. This peace of God is much more precious than we could ever imagine. It transcends all understanding. We experience this peace when we find Christ walking with us, in close proximity, along the journey of life. May you experience his peace today; may it touch and heal you!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is such a privilege to find you walking the journey of life with me. Thank you that you are always near, that you are never further than a prayer. You know what we need before we even ask. Thank you that I am always welcome in your presence; that I may pray with petition and thanksgiving in all situations. Teach me to trust in you fully; that all anxiety will fade away. Fill me with your peace, transcending all understanding. Amen