Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: Peace in our times of trouble

Posted

Today's devotion asks this question, "How can I have peace that passes my understanding?" In Philippians 4:6-7, we see, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (KJV) I believe we all know in our heart that the peace contained in our text is never the possession of the worldly, carnal, unfaithful backslider, but it is truly a reality for the Christian who cares about his or her walk with God. That being said, God has promised the Christian a peace that passes his or her understanding. This peace is not necessarily enjoyed when all is well, but when all isn't well.

Here, the apostle Paul, in penning these words to the believers in Philippi, was actually providing them with the heart of God toward them when it seemed that the bottom had dropped out of their world and they were reeling from the troubles, the trials, the storms and the seeming tragedies that had come their way in their Christian walk with the God of Heaven. The church in Philippi, and we as children of God today, are given a scriptural way for experiencing a peace from God which passes all understanding.

Notice that the way to this peace is really a voluntary submission to God about our self and our circumstances that are likely to make us worry. God says for us to "be careful for nothing." In other words, "don't worry" or don't trouble ourselves with what we know is in the hands of God and things that only He can take care of. He tells us to "pray about everything," which is really another voluntary act of submission. Praying this way brings the realization to our heart that nothing in our life is too big and nothing is too insignificant for God to handle. The final part is to obey the command to be "thankful" for the fact that our Savior is in complete control of our life. Whatever will come our way from the hand of God has already been tempered (made less intense) by the heart of God. This is the peace in our times of trouble. This is that peace that amazes us in the midst of our storms. This is our surpassing peace though the world is raging because we are in the shelter of His arms!

Dr. Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.