And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
While I was walking the beach with my girlfriends recently, I was moved by the vast beauty and serenity of the ocean. I was also awed by both the peacefulness and the enduing power it possesses. The calm, lapping waves on the shore are gentle enough to be walked through –– yet the stormy waves beyond the shore view can be powerful enough to sink a battleship.
The ocean seems to embody the characteristics of God – His vast and deep love for His children is unfathomable, His presence during our personal storms usher in serenity and peace, and His strength and power is immeasurable.
Truly the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will, in fact, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. But, how do we access and maintain a peaceful attitude in the turbulent circumstances of life? Through prayer, reading and speaking God’s Word, and obeying Him daily. It’s a day-to-day process. The more we engage in the process, the greater our ability to trust God.
As believers, we must practice intentional surrender of our circumstances to Christ and focus on God’s ability and the promise of His faithfulness in our lives. Prayer is where we will find intimacy with Christ, and with this intimacy, He imparts His peace. God’s peace will keep us from sinking or even drowning in our troubles.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because
they trust in you Isaiah 26:3 – NIV
As we grow in our ability to trust God with the storms in our lives, our faith will deepen and our hearts will be calmer and composed during the ominous waves of life. Jesus is bigger than our waves. He calmed the wind and the waves when He said, “Peace, be still!” to the storm in Mark 4:39. Never forget –– He can calm the wind and waves in our lives too.
God’s faithfulness brings peace and we can fully and completely depend on His deep and abiding love. Are you willing to trust Him with every aspect of your life? He’s waiting on you with open arms –– so, what are you waiting for?
