Peace or Understanding – Day 30

Peace or Understanding?

Truth:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When you are going through a situation that doesn’t line up with the will of God expressed in Scripture, it’s natural for anyone to want to make sense of it. We need to find purpose in the problem. We want to know a reason why. It’s in our nature – our fallen nature – to want to make reasonable sense out of life. If we make sense of everything, where’s our life of faith?

God has promised us a peace that passes understanding but how can we expect that if we worry about trying to understand everything about what we’re going through?

God’s peace passes understanding. Why would we want to settle for understanding?

Asking “Why?” usually gets our focus onto what God hasn’t done. We point the finger at God and others.  It’s counter-intuitive for living un-offended at God.

So how do we get the peace that passes understanding?

1.    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Choose joy despite the circumstance.

2.    Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5)

Don’t use your hurt as an excuse to hurt others. Too often we do that to those who are closest to us first and most. God is gentle with us, be gentle in your words and actions.

3.   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:7)

Take all your concerns and leave them with God. Pray the Psalms if you need a good lament, but be sure to turn it back to the good things about God.

Wow, that sure seems like a good lesson to fast from negativity.

It does appear strange to give up the right to understand, but the secret is we can only make sense of some situations when we have the peace that passes understanding. We don’t get that peace by trying to understand.

True, at times we will make sense of some very negative events this side of heaven.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2)

But it’s also true when we choose to live un-offended at God, sometimes understanding it all just won’t matter once we have the peace that passes it.

Prayer:

Lord, I need the peace that passes understanding. I call on my Lord who spoke “Peace” to the storm and it obeyed. In my life there is a storm and I need You to change me or change my situation, or change both. Lord, I will rejoice in You always, my gentleness will be evident to all, and I will present all my requests to You with thanksgiving. You are good and You are great. Thank You, Lord.

Challenge:

Rejoice, be gentle, and take everything to God with thanksgiving. Live life with the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.