Peace

Philippians 4:4-7

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. This peace will control the way you think and feel.

This peace this verse talked about is something I’m very familiar with. A peace that no one can completely understand, a peace that will control the way a person thinks or feels.

Peace.

I realize that everyone is looking for this peace, they’re looking for rest. This world has given us so much weight up on our backs that we forget the real meaning of rest, we forget that there is rest.

People have become so exhausted with life that they treat death as rest. They feel like death is rest. But the truth is, death is not rest.

You don't find rest in death. Just because your body seems so still and at peace doesn't mean your soul isn't screaming. Just because your eyes are closed and your figure is lifeless doesn't mean you're already sleeping.

Rest is different from death. There is no rest in death.

“Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand.”

It’s been said countless times that we belong to Him and Him alone. It’s been said and implied that God does not want us to worry. He does not want us to be troubled. He wants us to have peace.

What is peace? Peace does not mean having a life without storms. Peace means having calm while there is a storm. Peace means knowing everything will be alright, no matter how strong waves roar.

Peace.

We forget that peace. We forget that we don’t have to worry about anything because God is in complete control. We forget about an all knowing Creator in charge of everything that is happening in this world.

We forget.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.”

God is not asking us to stop working or stop living to attain peace. He’s asking us to stop worrying. He’s asking us to trust Him.

And who else do we trust? Why wouldn’t we trust a God who has created this universe and the next? Why wouldn’t we trust His power? Why wouldn’t we trust Him?

I guess, some people wouldn’t, because they’ve forgotten. They’ve forgotten who He is and what He has done. They’ve forgotten what He truly is to the world.

But that doesn’t matter.

“You belong to Christ Jesus...”

We belong to Him either way, He loves us either way. He’s just asking us to trust Him. Because how will you feel His peace if you don’t stop worrying? How will you rest if you keep choosing to be troubled?

Choose peace. Choose God. Stop worrying. You don’t have to worry anymore.