God's Peace
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Many strive to reach this kind of peace. They seek solace in different places looking for this “peace” that Philippians speaks about. People believe that having achieved a certain social status in life, exorbitant money in the bank or finding that perfect job would bring them peace. But though they may possess all these physical manifestations of wealth, somehow there is still unhappiness and unfulfillment that exists in their lives.
The perfect house, the perfect car, the perfect spouse, the perfect job and many “likes” on any social media platform will never replace the “peace” that God speaks about.
The perfect example of God’s peace is the story of Job.
Job was a very rich man; however, he was extremely faithful to God. God boasted about Job’s love and faithfulness towards Him. However, Satan believed that Job was only good because God had blessed him abundantly. God tested Job’s faithfulness by allowing Satan to attack him. God told Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him” (Job 1:12). Through Job’s trials, all was lost including his wealth, health and his children; his wife told him to curse God and commit suicide, but he remained strong and faithful, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” (Job 1:22). Job was also taunted by his friends. God knew that Job was receiving incorrect advice from them, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:2”.
Eventually, Job grew weary and lamented on God allowing the wicked to prosper and the innocent to suffer; he questioned God on his actions. Then God brings Job to an understanding that believers do not know and understand what God is doing in their lives.
The main lesson to be learnt from the Book of Job is that man does not know the reason why certain things happen, but he must always trust in the Lord. God deals with each man differently, and always through steadfast prayer and worship God would show mercy and His ultimate plan for man’s life would be unfold.
If you are hurting from a broken relationship; it is not our job to understand the reason why we are hurting, but to trust that we would recover from that hurt. According to Psalm 34:18: “The LORD is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God would lead you to a place where there is unconditional love.
You may be pressured in a stressful job and others are being promoted over you. For he says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the exalted in the earth.” God will deliver you from all unrighteous actions done against you; remain still and stand firm and know that God is working in the background.
There are so many problems man deals with daily; affliction by disease, poverty, abuse or grief and we often ask God “why?”. We as man will never know “why”. No matter how we try to understand the consequences of evil, it will still bring us to a point of confusion. As Christians trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). The peace of God brings harmony and calmness to the body, mind and spirit that overcomes any earthy circumstance. It doesn’t matter what obstacles are placed before you; you would remain unshaken as God gives you grace, peace and wisdom to live to see another day.
