"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. ...and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8,9b.
I love this rose. The Peace rose, it's called. Never know what color it's going to be. Never know what form it will take. Neither do we know the form in which the peace of God will bathe us in the midst of our heartache and sorrow. But as believers in Jesus, we know He will bring us peace. He said so. It's not the peace of the world, but a peace far better than the world offers.
God's peace doesn't come from the pharmacy, the local liquor store, or escape in temporary pleasures.
When God's peace is present, so is the presence of God. He, Himself, is our peace. No wonder it passes all understanding. Who can understand God? Who can comprehend His majesty, His love?
Paul cautions us in verse 6: "Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
"In everything" we are to pray and petition with thanksgiving. Is Paul saying we are to rejoice in these things that produce fretting and anxiety? Or is he saying to pray and petition with a heart that is thankful to God for the blessing and privilege we have to bring these things into His very presence? I think the latter.
We don't jump up and down and celebrate when our children disobey us and follow satan into a path of deception. We don't praise the Lord and shout hallejuhah when hurricanes, tornadoes and storms destroy. We don't sit around revelling at the idea of war and what war does to individuals, their families and countries. We don't giggle and sing when a child is threatened by disease. We don't dance on a loved one's grave when he dies. No.
Dwelling on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy does not anesthetize us from the pain we have in life.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (4.
Note that Paul didn't say rejoice in poverty, rejoice in brokenness, rejoice in grief or rejoice in pain. He said, "rejoice IN the LORD." That is how we get through our times of sadness, sorrow, and difficulty. Rejoicing in the Lord. Dwelling on the sufficiency of God--His protection. Accepting the providence of God and the hope in Christ our Lord. These are what get me through each day.
Knowing God is a God full of mercy--and clinging to that fact--empowers me to rise another morning, take another step and breathe a fresh breath of air. Realizing I can come to Him with any problem small or great comforts me. Recognizing the friends He sends into my path to lean on, bolsters my faith. The victory I have in the Lord gives me the strength to endure. In spite of the trials and tribulations I face along my journey Home.
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]
