Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSVUE)
The above passage was part of a letter that Paul wrote to the people of Philippi while he was in a Roman prison. The words are comforting, joyful and familiar. We know these verses. “Do not worry about anything…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.” Paul is urging us to cope with life’s struggles as just as he struggled with life in prison.
I am one who worries. Always have. My mom worried too. Are my kids safe, are my grandkids safe? Are they happy? Are they careful? What if they don’t pass this class, don’t get selected for a certain team, don’t get into a certain school, have their hearts broken? How about adulting for them? Are they stressed out trying to work and raise their families? What about my life - will I remain healthy, will my husband, have we planned well enough for retirement, and the list goes on. And if that’s not enough, there’s the news and current events.
There are many things in this life that keep us up at night, that make us anxious. But as Max Lucado said in a sermon to Northview Church, “the presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.” Wow, that’s so good. I know that God wants us to bring everything to him in prayer. He wants us to be specific and to do it thankfully with faith knowing that he hears us. Doing so helps us to experience peace, the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding.
Questions for Reflection:
- What things keep you up at night? Make you anxious?
- Do you have a practice of bringing things to God in prayer?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for the peace you bring into our lives. I will not be imprisoned by my worries and I have you to thank for that. I will rejoice in your love and care. Amen
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