Patience or Peace

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6,7)

Many of you reading this are probably Type-A personalities. Me too. Here is another of God’s IF-THEN statements. If we’re not anxious, pray with thanksgiving to let God know our requests then the peace of God engulfs us. How can we not be anxious when our life is circling the drain, filled with trials, misunderstood, cheated out of money, and more? And what if the answer I want isn’t immediately forthcoming?

Ask yourself,

who made the promise? Has He ever been known to lie? Today’s title is not an either/or decision. It’s a both/and. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a clue: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Paul reminds us “…for we walk by faith not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

When things are spinning out of (our) control and anxiety, frustration, and maybe anger meters are in the red zone, that’s a pretty good indication we’re acting in our own strength and not connecting to the power living in us. Take a deep breath. Again in Hebrews (11:6), we’re reminded that, “…he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Furthermore, nothing sneaks up on Him.

The question we should consider is,

“What is God trying to teach me through this…(fill in the blank).” In every one of God’s if/then promises, there is a condition to meet before the “then” appears. The kind of prayer today’s verse is referring to is earnest pleading accompanied by faith that God will hear and act. Our challenge is to accept God’s timing. And this is where our patience begets peace, because we’ve given it to God and are trusting Him for the answer. Spoiler alert: it may or may not be answered in the way we want.

But even that is good news. Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “we know that God causes all things to work together for good (here’s the ‘if’) to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” So we’re back to looking for God’s purpose in our situation.

We know God’s primary purpose

in all He does in our lives is to chip away at our rough edges and polish what’s left so we become more and more like Jesus. Hopefully, that’s our purpose too. And in sharing a mutual goal for our life with our loving Father, totally trusting in His goodness, mercy and flawless planning and execution, we can have the peace that passes all comprehension.

Men were not meant to soldier alone. Solomon told us, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up…And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart” (Eccl. 4:9-12).

We are designed by God

to have fellowship with other men. Many of us have bought the lie that we don’t need no stinkin’ fellowship. Back in the 1930s this phrase was coined, “A problem shared is a problem halved.” Not a Biblical source, though apt to our discussion. But Paul doesn’t disappoint. He wrote to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

What exactly is “the law of Christ”? Simply stated, Love God, love your neighbor. Sometimes we’re the lover, sometimes the loved. Do your part to help a brother in need. Your turn will come.

If you’re struggling with this and don’t know for certain that you have the power of God, the Holy Spirit, living in you, check out our Steps To Salvation page.

Thanks for reading.