Lately, though, I’ve reconsidered. What about the times my life unraveled only to be knit more tightly? Falling to bits felt terrible, but it brought about needful change. Is there not some peace in that somewhere? What about the times I’ve been afraid to do what needed to be done, but pushed through anyway? I wasn’t particularly comfortable, but is there not some peace in seeking courage?
Like the virgin birth or the concept of the Trinity, I place God’s peace firmly in the camp of holy mystery. It is ever shifting and always changing, but as a child of God, I am assured of its presence and protection. Even during times of discomfort, anxiety, and tension, God’s peace is somehow amazingly at work.
1 comment:
Amen. For kicks, after reading this, I looked up the passage in Philippians 4 where that phrase comes from:
"4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I love that. I think God's peace (as opposed to the world's peace, which comes in the form of a lack of conflict, "peaceful" circumstances) surpasses all understanding because it's so counterintuitive--having security, joy, and contentment when the world around me is falling apart sounds like lunacy. Or magical thinking. But Paul says he's found a contentment that's (amazingly!) completely independent of his circumstances, and given the context of the entire chapter, that contentment and peace can only have come from God Himself. I've known some of that kind of peace (and it sounds like you have too), and it's like being tethered to something solid and unmoving in the midst of fierce wind and flying debris. The storm is still very real, with real anxiety and fear and discomfort, but God's presence and promises are a lifeline that helps me to know for certain that I'm not going to blow away completely. (something like that, anyway...)
Post a Comment