Peace

Verse: Philippians 4:6-7
Context: Philippians 4:1-9

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (NIV 84).

This promise is one of my favorite ones and one which I have memorized and remind myself regularly. Showing concern for others welfare or concern over how we have acted is often appropriate. Concern for ourselves can also be appropriate as it helps us take care of ourselves. Here, I am discussing inappropriate anxieties that lead us away from trusting God and stem from the feeling of not having control of situations. We can often dismiss anxiety as a character flaw or natural due to our circumstances. However, letting anxiety or fear guide our decisions leads us away from God's will and can be harmful to our lives and relationships.

Acting on this promise has often given me a sense of peace and perspective that rises about the situation. We often can be thankful or anxious in the same situation depending on our focus. The immediate change of heart and focus I have had while worrying or disappointed about an issue can only be attributed to God.

I know a friend who often can be anxious about money issues. Often when their spouse brought up the need to purchase something it would cause them to become angry and complain. Their spouse would then often respond in turn with frustration and anxiety, which hindered honesty and trust in that relationship. The situation was caused by a deep-seated anxiety over money. Without this anxiety, this person would be free to respond more calmly whether to make the purchase or not, and the trajectory of the relationship would be very different.