Real Peace of Mind
Be Strong, Be Well — Saturday, May 30
We’re familiar with Paul’s message to the Philippian church, “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus” (4:6-7).
What kind of peace is a peace which surpasses all understanding? Jesus spoke about the difference between His peace and the world’s peace. “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).
The world doesn’t know real peace, so it doesn’t have true peace to give. All we see here is turmoil and heartbreak. Since we live in the world, if we’re not careful, the world’s ways can rub off on us. It’s going to take diligent effort to gain the true inner peace and tranquility that both Jesus and Paul were talking about.
We may think peace is not having any problems. But if this were the case we wouldn’t have much peace at all. We are rarely without problems. So peace must be an attitude or mindset. How can we have the peace “which surpasses all understanding” while we’re living in this world of problems, trials, and heartache?
For sure, we are inadequate when it comes to even attempting to solve any of our problems alone. We need confidence and trust in God to help us. Jeremiah said, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (10:23). God does this through His word, the Bible, along with prayer.
This is where Paul’s words come into the picture. “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
We must stop trying to do everything by ourselves. There is nothing but painful anxiety if we don’t allow God to take charge of our lives. Then, and only then, will we have the peace of mind which surpasses all human understanding. —Chris