Persistent Peace
Overcoming Fear and
Anxiety
Theme: Trusting God to
calm fears and bring peace.
Author: Evelyn Linton
Phil. 4:6-7 (NKJV) - Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
One of my weirdest quirks is to periodically engage in
battles that aim to wrestle worry from the clutches of peace. Do you sometimes do it, too? The reasons behind our
responses to challenges may be complex; however, a fair conclusion is that we
sometimes struggle to demonstrate enduring faith that overcomes fear and
anxiety.
Here’s a scenario - I remember experiencing a very
challenging situation that had the potential to impact my well-being and,
consequently, my job. Understandably, we value good health and the ability to
generate an income. I remember not knowing what to do next or who to talk to.
The situation seemed too sensitive to broadcast, and it was totally out of my
control.
I don’t recall my prayers, but I remember asking God for
help and direction. However, my prayers were not spread over a prolonged,
agonizing period of anguish because God lovingly gave me an irrational sense of
peace. I didn’t know the outcome or how the situation would impact my family;
however, I was enveloped in a cocoon of God’s peace.
I would love to tell you that I accepted this as God’s
answer and calmly rested against His chest while He sorted it out for me. Nope!
My rational mind went into overdrive: “How can I be doing absolutely nothing
about this?” I asked myself. “Why am I relaxed when I’m in danger? I need to
start planning!
My attempts at reasoning made no sense because finding a
solution from a human perspective was like trying to stop the waves from
hitting the seashore. But God’s peace pursued me and reassured me that He was
taking care of me. I remember feeling very light as if floating through the
days at work. I am sure God was carrying me.
Reflecting on that experience, I am grateful to God, who can
ALWAYS be trusted to keep His word. With Him, nothing is impossible, and if we
ask Him, He will give peace that passes all understanding. In case you’re
wondering, God fixed that situation so well that I now wonder what I was
anxious about in the first place. He showed me how he had started a process
years before to take care of the situation that I was facing. What a God!
He is pursuing you with His perfect irrational peace. Why
resist? Why not allow Him to wrap you in His comforting blanket of peace and
carry you through each challenge?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being our source of peace in every storm.
Teach us to release our anxieties to You and trust in Your perfect plan. When
fear and worry creep in, remind us of Your promise to guard our hearts and
minds with peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us rest in Your love,
knowing You are already at work, even when we cannot see the outcome.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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