Peace. Often elusive at the time we need it most, when we are struggling with the worst. It’s enemies are sickness, death, financial loss, overdue bills, busyness, strife, a difficult boss, a strife-filled home — so many things. They drown out our sense of tranquility and rest with relentless force, leaving us stress, distressed, and anxious. Yet Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27 – NKJV) So why the disconnect? Why the struggle to find peace in the midst of turmoil?
The answer is found in Philippians 4:6-7 — “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (AMP) You know this verse, don’t you? Probably have quoted it, claimed it, declared and decreed it — and yet…have failed to find the peace it speaks of. There is a key though. A secret, if you will. Its the word “transcends” (some versions say “surpasses” — same meaning.) the word means “to rise above or go beyond the limits of something.” Hmmm…. This peace rises above and goes beyond the limits of what? Our understanding. See, most of the time we want to know the outcome. Or the end game. Or the answer. Our understanding depends on it. We tie our peace to it. And yet the Word says that His peace transcends our need to know these things.
So, question: Do you want His peace, or do you cling to your need to understand? What if you have to choose one or the other? What if having His peace is simply a matter of choosing it in prayer, and letting go of our demand to know the WHAT or the WHY? I propose that when we give Him our anxious and worried thoughts (which are actually negative faith, by the way), and thankfully ask for His peace in the midst of our circumstances, that peace becomes ours and stands guard at the door of our heart to do battle with those things that are at enmity with His promises.
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way….” (2 Thess. 3:16 – NKJV)