SCRIPTURE- Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

One quality that is often in short supply in our world, is that of personal peace. In fact, that is even more real today in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic and the resulting fear that steals our peace and creates levels of anxiety that we feel in the pits of our stomachs. 

God’s peace, however, is not dependent on the circumstances of our lives. I remember meeting a family with a brand new baby in the slums of Cairo. They lived in what is called a garbage city. They collected garbage from neighborhoods in Cairo, brought it home on oxcarts or overloaded pickup trucks without much of a suspension and dumped the garbage in their backyard. It was usually waist high. Goats would rummage for the food and the family would recycle anything they could for resale and a few dollars. Yet standing in front of their cinder block hut with a rusted tin roof and furnishings that all came from the trash, this family warmly smiled and didn’t seem to have a care in the world. 

Unlike most in that garbage city, they had been introduced to Christ, and they lived out the words of the apostle Paul. When I asked why they had such joy, they explained that God had changed their lives. Rather than complaining about their situation, they rejoiced in God. They lived by faith each and every day, praying for God’s provision and thanking Him for their blessings. And they had absolute confidence that God would provide for them. They knew what it meant to literally pray for their daily bread.

That kind of trust and faith, lived out by fervent prayers for their needs and thanksgiving for His blessings, gave them peace. In fact, Paul says that when we live that way, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is not the peace that comes from security and comfort. Rather, it is a peace that is not understandable from the world’s point of view. It thrives in good times and bad, and it guards our hearts and our minds - the very places where fear so easily creeps in. It is the supernatural peace of Christ Jesus.

The day I spent with this family, in the midst of the garbage, convicted me to want more of the peace that they had. In all their poverty, they had the one thing that millions of people long for: Peace! Paul understood that peace. Even as he wrote to the Philippians, he was in jail, and the jails of his day were miserable places. But here he is talking to us about the peace of God that transcends understanding. A peace characterized by rejoicing and confidence in God. Ask God for that peace and follow Paul’s advice, learned over a lifetime of tough experiences.

PRAYER

Father, You tell us that the Lord is near, no matter what our circumstances. I thank You that You are near me and love me. Help me to rejoice in You, thanking You for Your gifts, rather than complaining about what I don’t have. Take my anxious thoughts and grant me the peace that passes all understanding. Amen.