What is Peace beyond Understanding?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything…
Fear is the emotion that lurks under almost every distressing emotion. Under anger is hurt, and under hurt is fear. Under stress is anxiety, under anxiety is fear. Perhaps that’s why God keeps telling us not to be afraid. Fear not. Let not your heart be troubled. Do not be anxious for anything.
Fear robs us of peace. It has a way of keeping us stuck because it is difficult to see past the thing that is distressing us. Yet, we are not to remain trapped in our fear. We are to go to God in prayer.
But in every situation, by prayer and supplication…
Pray. We are to go to God with everything in prayer. Through Jesus Christ, we have been given permission to approach God’s throne. Jesus is our high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6: 19-20)
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110: 4)
No matter what the situation, God is capable of helping us. Whatever the issue, we are to humbly (with supplication) take our concerns directly to God in prayer.
With thanksgiving, present your requests to God…
It is very important that we are thankful when we present our requests to God. Without gratitude, we will feel like victims of circumstance. We become victims of our own distress.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
It can be difficult to feel thankful when we are struggling. Even so, it is very important that we are thankful in all things. In order to accomplish that, it helps if we make habit of remembering what God has done in our lives and looking for what God is already doing with the current challenge. Step back and ask God to show you that He is there in that situation – already at work in it.
When we are afraid, our prayers tend to be desperate. Sometimes our prayers are really just our way of whining at God and pleading with Him to do what we want Him to do. We tend to believe that we are victims caught in circumstances beyond our control. But we are not victims – we are victors in Christ!
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15: 56-57)
When we can learn to see God’s hand in our lives, we learn that we can trust God completely. When we see God’s hand in our current struggle and realize that He is already at work in it, we can more easily surrender our fear to the Lord.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8: 28)
Being thankful in all things changes how we pray. No longer feeling like a victim, we can pray with confidence that God is going to do something important and He will help us through our challenge. Now we are ready to fully surrender our anxiety to the lord.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…
When we completely surrender our fear to the Lord, we will feel relief. Immediately after which, we enter in to God’s rest and His peace which transcends all understanding.
What is so amazing about God’s peace? God’s peace is not contingent upon circumstances. We can have total peace – even though the circumstances have not changed or been resolved.
A moment ago, we were in distress but suddenly we have peace. To the world, the situation has not changed and nothing has been resolved – yet we are no longer troubled. It doesn’t seem logical. That is why this peace passes all understanding: God’s peace is not of this world. It is impossible for the world to understand because it is a spiritual gift from God.
Will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14: 27)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)
Leave a Reply