Worry is the enemy of a life of peace. It is also wasted energy that saps our spirits, causes us anxiety, distracts us from issues at hand and leaves us emotionally drained. It is also antithetical to the life that Jesus created us for: a life of peace and childlike trust in Him. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” How many of us would like to live with that kind of peace rather than the anxiety and worry we often live with?

We will examine how we can let worry go and live with a peace that passes understanding. The first key is to determine what we choose to focus our minds on. Here is the principle: All thoughts are either positive or negative. Positive thoughts that reflect God’s hope yield peace and a sense of well being, while negative thoughts yield worry and anxiety. 

This is why the Scriptures remind us often to fill our minds with God’s word. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:15-16). Notice that all of these are positive thoughts rather than negative thoughts. Elsewhere, Paul tells us, “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” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Don’t gloss over these scriptures. They give believers the recipe for peaceful hearts. It involves allowing God’s peace to dwell in our hearts, thankfulness, letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly, rejoicing in God, presenting our requests to God with the resulting promise that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. All of these practices drive worry and anxiety from our lives. In fact, we are told to give those worries to God and allow Him to carry them for us. 

Here is the issue we face daily: We must make a choice as to whether we will walk through our day practicing these principles or allow ourselves to wallow in worry. God promises us peace, but we choose whether we will access that peace or whether we will allow our minds to be diverted by worry. Anxiety is natural and each of us has reason to be anxious. But as anxiety and worry crop up in our minds, we have the option of choosing to give God our worries and dwell on the hope that He promises. 

I was once in the ICU in Thailand, on a ventilator and not expected to live. I had massive pneumonia, septic shock, multiple organ failure, congestive heart failure and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. They don’t sedate people in Thailand when they are on a ventilator. I was wide awake, barely able to breathe, knowing the prognosis and expecting that I would not make it through this second major illness far from home. My mind kept going to the thought that I would not make it this time. This was the end. I was going to die. Every hour on the vent was like 24 hours, very painful and I was on the vent for 11 days. 

I was alone with my pain and my thoughts. And I had to choose: would I dwell on the likely outcome or would I choose God instead? I made the decision to choose God and hope. Every time I started down a trail of worry I ran these words of Jesus through my mind: “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” It was a battle, but I won the battle of peace over anxiety, regardless of what God chose to do with my life. I chose to let go of fear and allow God’s Spirit to bring peace to my soul. You can do the same today.

Father, I pray for Your peace. I pray that You would relieve me of my troubled heart and allow You to carry my fear and anxiety. Give me the peace that passes all understanding today. Amen.