Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-6
I was so touched by the responses of yesterday’s post. Some were on Facebook so they don’t show here, but essentially the kindred spirits talked of “rejoicing” trumping anxiety. When they rejoiced, they could not be anxious.
If you read through Paul’s letters, you’ll find that he constantly reminds the people to rejoice. He even says, “I’m not ashamed to repeat myself.” It’s just that important.
Another dear reader commented on the peace of God in her life. She’s traded darkness and drama for His peace. She is a walking testimony of the power of God. The promise of God.
Anxiety is dramatic isn’t it? It often trumps common sense. Maybe that is why when anxious thoughts come there is nowhere to go but to rejoicing in the hope, power, and goodness of God found in Jesus. That doesn’t make sense either, but rather than drama, His reality though unseen brings uncommon, unfathomable peace.
Pray.
Petition.
Be thankful.
Be weird. Different. Peaceful. Cause you know that God’s got it. He’s got you.
But you and I can’t force this peace. We can’t make it happen in us. It only comes with the presence of Jesus– Holy Spirit filling our anxious places pushing out the drama and leaving peace behind. And that only comes when we trust Him.
I’ve only experienced the unfathomable peace a handful of times in my life, but one of the most memorable was when doctors were concerned that my unborn baby was Down-Syndrome. After two weeks of anxiety and fear and drama I had the thought, “This baby will be a blessing no matter what.” I remember saying it out loud as I drove down the highway.
Peace like I’ve never known flooded my car and my heart and mind.
I was at the end of myself. I couldn’t fix the problem. I couldn’t change it. Looking back I now see I was given a choice: to fear or to trust. The trusting wasn’t that my baby would be normal, that God makes everything happy and fixes every problem.
I was trusting His goodness found even in the difficult, heartbreaking situations.
I really don’t think I came up with this thought (my baby will be a blessing no matter what). I believe God placed that thought in my mind as I petitioned for His help. I was desperate for His peace. The anxiety was broken when I spoke my trust out loud.
You really can’t rejoice silently can you?
I’m praying for your peace and new revelations of the power of rejoicing.
Have a great weekend. Keep chewing on Philippians 4:4-7.
Much grace,
andy
