The Peace of God. Philippians 4:7. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The apostle Paul gave three exhortations to the Philippian believers so they could experience joy and peace. To “Rejoice in the Lord” is genuine and achievable when we are dedicated to revering and respecting the holiness in the Lord, which should also be in us. Moderation becomes a character trait for those who live consciously of the Lord’s presence with us. The third exhortation relates to our personal connection to the Lord through prayer.
The peace of God is not a state of mind that comes when we pull ourselves up “by the bootstraps” or unload our inner thoughts to a psychologist. It is characterized by calmness and tranquility, based on having made peace with God through the forgiveness of our sins and our acceptance into God’s family. As family members, we are granted peace that comes with eternal life and all of its marvelous perspectives on life, death, and eternity.
We only understand a small part of what peace truly means because of our limited ability to grasp much beyond our own experience. However, when we talk to our Father and express ourselves and our requests in words we understand, we know He fully comprehends what we can’t even put into words. His peace, which guards our emotions and thoughts like armed soldiers, assures us that everything is under divine control, and we rest in that truth.
Our anxiety and worry don’t change anything, nor can we always change what happens around us through self-effort. But we will find that we are changed after “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” bring us closer to the Lord. By making our requests known to God, we have intentionally handed over to Him whatever concerns us and left them there for Him to do what He knows needs to be done.
Knowing that everything is unfolding according to God's plan gives me peace, even though everything around me is disrupted by the relentless pressure of the world and sin against believers. That offer of peace is available to people of faith who discover that God grants “perfect peace” when their hearts and minds are fixed on Him. A child of God who makes requests to Him can be assured that God will not test them beyond their endurance if they consistently follow Him in their pursuit of His will. Their heart is at ease because of their complete trust in God’s plans and purposes, which they know are best. Although we do not know the full extent of God’s rest, the peace He provides now is enough for me.
When my mind is under the control of God’s mind and will, and I am walking by faith, not just by sight, the present peace of God sheds its holy light in my soul and, hopefully, on the things I don’t naturally understand. I know all this works without my understanding because I have experienced this peace; it is real. The peace of God is beyond my natural comprehension. Therefore, I am limited by time, limited in intelligence, lacking ability, and sometimes weak in faith, but I know God has no beginning or end. So, I will simply enjoy His peace for what it is and be thankful that I am experiencing it with gladness of heart and mind.