Peace That Stays

Everyone wants peace. In the world, in our homes, and in our hearts. In difficult times, we seek comfort. In heartbreaking moments, we want a peace that remains steady despite the circumstances.

The Bible teaches about this kind of peace. Philippians 4:7 describes the peace of God. No amount of self-talk or meditation can manufacture this kind of peace—it only can come from God Himself. Preacher and theologian Charles Spurgeon described this kind of peace as the perfect calm and happiness of God, who is always content.

This peace transcends all understanding. It's the idea that something goes beyond our normal way of thinking. That is a beautiful description of what God’s peace does. It exceeds our understanding and surpasses anything we could expect or imagine. It also guards and protects our hearts and minds.

How do we get this kind of peace? The surrounding verses in Philippians offer guidance. Philippians 4:6 tells us to take every anxious thought and turn it into a prayer. One way to visualize this is to clench your first as an image of it being filled with worry. Now, lift and open your hand, palms up, in prayer as a symbol of releasing your burdens to God.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to be intentional and think about what is true, lovely, and pure. Sometimes, that's easy. But in moments of chaos and uncertainty, it can be much more difficult. With God’s help, you can intentionally and purposefully choose to think about what is true.

God’s peace has roots in His unchanging character and it's not dependent on our circumstances. When anxiety rises, may we choose to trust in the One who offers a peace that surpasses our understanding.

Today, let’s bring our worries to Him in prayer and fix our thoughts on what is true, lovely, and pure. His peace will guard our hearts and minds. This is living according to what He promises.