Steven A. Bush - November 10, 2024
Forsaking Anxiety for Peace
Philippians 4:4-7 says: "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." (ESV) What's promised in this passage? Peace! And the text says that peace will surpasses or transcend all understanding. In other words, whatever it may be that's fueling our anxiety, causing us to worry, may not be understood even after we've prayed, but peace--of more value than understanding--should settle us into a place of trusting God as we wait for His answers. Some might tell us in times of fretting to go to our "happy place." But God's Word tells us to pray and allow Him to blanket us with peace. In Matthew 11:28-30 we have a striking invitation from Jesus which He issues to all of us weighed down heavily by worrisome burdens of every sort: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NKJV) That sounds like a superb invitation!
Scripture References: Philippians 4:4-9, Psalms 55:22, 1 Peter 5:6-7, John 14:27, Matthew 11:28-30