The

peace of God described in today’s reading is one of the many

blessings God promises his people who pray.

Occasionally

we hear people talk about having “inner peace,” and we can get

the impression that inner peace is a personality trait that some

people who are calm by nature have more than others. Other times,

inner peace is described as something people can develop by following

a pattern of relaxing meditation techniques.

But

the kind of peace Paul describes is very different. It’s not

something only a few people can experience; it’s a gift that

everyone can receive. And when Paul says this peace “transcends all

understanding,” he indicates that it is not something we can

produce by our own efforts.

Paul

is describing the peace that comes from God and that guards troubled

hearts. The word translated as “guard” here is a strong military

term. It refers to the close supervision a Roman soldier would have

over someone entrusted to his care. In fact, in Paul’s day

prisoners were often chained to the Roman guards assigned to watch

over them.

The

picture in this verse is compelling. Our prayers connect us directly

to God. The best inner peace is the kind that God alone can provide.

If your heart needs that peace, ask God to give it to you. He will

surely do it.