Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Don’t worry?! For someone who has been a chronic worrier those words are hard to hear. I’ve spent so much of my life allowing fear and anxiety to dictate my decisions and control my mind. I’ve wanted to surrender control to God, but I’ve been reluctant to let go.
I thank God for His incredible patience as I have walked out this journey. The irony is the more I surrender control and cast my cares onto Him – the less anxiety and worry I experience. But I have found that it is easier said than done. It’s a daily practice. A daily surrender. A daily picking up of my cross. A daily dying to my flesh. And His mercy is ever ready to gently (and sometimes less gently - He knows best :)) usher me down the aisle towards the marriage supper of the Lamb. He’s always preparing His bride to be ready for Him in eternal matrimony where fear will NEVER be allowed.
Peace is a Person. His Name is Jesus. His Name is God the Father. His Name is the Holy Spirit.
This song came to me at a time where I was really fighting anxiety. I love how honest David is in the Psalms, yet always giving God the honor, He alone deserves ... “How long oh Lord?! Where are You God - have You forgotten about me? ... (then) - I will trust in Your unfailing love”. Man, there’s beautiful tension in that. And in that tension is where the cross comes all the more alive. He alone is able to meet us in the mess and deliver us - either out of the fire or bringing peace smack in the middle of it.
When my mind is like a battlefield
And my heart is overcome by fear
And hope seems like a ship that’s lost at sea
My enemies on every side
And I’m tempted to run and hide
Your gentle whisper reaches out to me
Peace that holds me when I’m broken
Peace that passes understanding
When the whole wide world is crashing down
I fall to my knees
And breathe in Your peace
If ever there was a time, we needed the peace of God, it is now. Peace is part of the fruit of His Spirit. Peace is a promise to God’s children - The blessed assurance that no matter what fiery trial we are walking through, we can truly rest in the profound TRUTH that we are deeply loved by the Creator of the universe, and He is holding us in His embrace both now and forever!
Come Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace.
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