The Peace of God

To be at peace...what a comforting thought! Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you can have peace? Wouldn’t you like not to have to worry about the cares of this life for just a little while? Of course, you would! We all would. Would it surprise you to know that Scripture says it is possible? It shouldn’t!

The apostle Paul refers to a “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” in Philippians 4:7. That peace is available to all of us, but it is offered, as all the spiritual blessings of God are offered, conditionally. In Philippians 4:4-6 we read: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. If you will follow these commands, you will have that “peace of God which surpasses all comprehension.”

First, we must rejoice in the Lord always. This was important enough for Paul to say it twice. Did you notice that he did not qualify it? He does not say rejoice in the Lord when times are good. He said rejoice in the Lord always. That means even in the bad times; in the times when you really do not think rejoicing is a good idea or even possible. Right along with the idea of rejoicing even in the bad times is the notion of letting your gentle spirit be known to all men. Only the person who can rejoice in the Lord even in difficult times is able to let his or her gentle spirit (or patience or forbearance) be seen and known by all.

Remembering or acknowledging that the Lord is near will help you obey these commands. He is not far away. He knows you are suffering. He knows it is hard to rejoice right now. And He knows if you are obeying the command to rejoice. “Don’t worry!” He says. That is what it means to be anxious for nothing. Do not worry about these hard times. You may not be able to ignore them, but you do not have to let them win. You do not have to let the hard times drive a wedge between you and God. He is here, nearby, ready to lend a Helping Hand. If you approach Him with confidence, He will provide the grace you need to get through this difficulty (Hebrews 4:16). Paul says let your requests be made known to God. And he says do it with an attitude of prayer (respectful prayer) and thanksgiving. Even when we pray for grace to help in time of need, there is reason to offer thanks. There is no prayer in which it inappropriate to offer thanks.

To be at peace...what a lovely thought! What would you give to be at peace? Sometimes my mind is in such turmoil that I feel I would give more than I have to be at peace. God offers me that peace and He offers it to you, too. What would you give? Would you give yourself? Would you give up all your wants and wishes and desires? Would you surrender yourself to His will completely? That is all He asks. That is all it will take; complete and unconditional surrender. If you will pay that price, God will take care of you because He loves you and so, by the way, do I.