"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God's timing is so amazing. I really needed a reminder such as Philippians 4:4-7. I recently did a study on this passage. It is very familiar to us. We all find encouragement in it... but do we actually take it to heart? I know I'm not alone when I say that I have been feeling overwhelmed and tired. It's not a negative, for I am so very grateful for my family and the work that I do. But I sometimes look at the date and wonder where the time has gone... summer is already around the corner.
Yet I am so grateful to God. Even as I sit here and type this, I am overwhelmed by His faithfulness. There have been so many things we have been lifting to Him in prayer and we have seen Him in everything. Yes, life is busy. Yes, there is sometimes so much frustration and discouragement. Yes, there is overwhelming pain. Yes, there are heavy burdens to carry. BUT... then I am reminded again what Paul implores us to do in this text in Philippians:
- Rejoice!
- Let your reasonableness/gentleness be evident.
- Don't be anxious.
- Pray!
The result? Peace... and not just peace, but the peace of God... and this peace will also guard our hearts.
Amazing. Do you know that peace?
Thank you, God! I continue to look to you and I am ever grateful for your provision, for your strength, for carrying my burdens. I know that it's you who provides. I know it's you who knows what's next in store for us, even when we don't. So I want to always give thanks.
I need reminders of this all the time. His humour being evident, often those reminders tend to come from my own KIDS! But in the end, He always does provide, and often far more than we even expect.
ReplyDeleteI was just about to post something on this topic when I saw this posting and decided to comment om it instead. I've been having so much stress and anxiety lately that is greatly affecting my health and I know I need to just stop it, pause and reflect on what the Bible says in this passage. Then again, easier said than done.
ReplyDeleteA part of me has been wanting to give up and sometimes has.I then came across Prov 24:10 and it stopped me on my tracks! "If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great"NLT. Goodness, I felt so rebuked and so now I am resolving to stand on my knees because from thence will I draw the strength I need at this time of adversity.
I am always comforted to know that for every night there is a morning and joy comes with it! So I am purposing to do as you have pointed above Dolly,rejoice, be gentle, not be anxious and pray! And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Thank you Lord!