God Speaking

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

(Philippians 4:7)

My husband and I have just lived through some stressful days as he was required to have a blood test to check the cancer he is experiencing in his bones and we were both very anxious about the result, as he is coping with a new form of treatment and the side effects have been quite severe. We had four days to wait for the result which was to come in a phone call from the Cancer Agency and the night before it was due, we both felt panic and unease overcoming us. The next morning, we awoke early and began our regular study and prayer, both very apprehensive about what the day would bring.  As my husband opened our study guide, these are the opening words he read out aloud;

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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)

We both felt the incredible presence of the Lord reassuring us that he knew how we were feeling and was encircling us with his peace and, as we felt that peace, the fear did disappear, and we were able to face what the day was to bring, and thanks be to God the news was good.

In the turmoil of stressful living it is hard to remember that one of the many beautiful promises Jesus makes to his followers is, peace. I tend to think of the word peace as being associated with tranquil settings, such as sitting beside a lake, or walking along a path bordered with tall stately, trees, or watching a sunset seated on a beach, but the amazing part of the peace Jesus offers, is that it can occur whatever we are doing and despite what chaotic happenings may be enveloping us.

The most important thing for us to remember is, that we can only experience that peace if we stay close to his presence because as soon as we drift away the world intercedes with ugly thoughts of worry, stressful situations overwhelm us, obstacles we are facing seem insurmountable. The Psalmists knew how important it was to seek peace actively and David uses a strange word that does not seem to fit with a sense of peace until we think deeply about his words;

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34: 14)

“pursue” is a verb full of action. That peace that transcends all understanding is only available when we keep a steadfast relationship with the Giver of perfect peace.

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26: 3)