Wednesday, December 22
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
When one of our sons was about four years old he didn’t like to go by himself into unoccupied parts of our home. For example, if he needed to go into the basement to retrieve his shoes, he would insist that either a light had to be on in the basement or someone else had to come with him – preferably both! So if I told him to go get his shoes out of the basement, he would walk over to the stairway and stand staring down into the dark basement. Then he would look back at me and say, “It’s dark Daddy.” I would say something comforting like, “Well, turn on the light and go on down. You’ve been in the basement a million times!” He would continue to stare down the dark stairway. Then he would turn again and say softly, “Will you come with me Daddy?” Then I would get up from whatever I was doing and walk over and stand at the top of the stairway – and something about my presence gave him the courage to go down the stairs and get his shoes.
I think that’s what the Apostle Paul is teaching us here about prayer. Notice the promise of prayer is NOT that God will change our circumstances! Of course, he can change our circumstances and he sometimes does change our circumstances – but that is not the promise. The promise is “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” The promise is peace.
This is a peace anchored not in circumstances but rather in a person. The basement is still dark and scary but there is one who stands guard! What makes you anxious today? Do you face a difficult or painful issue? The Bible teaches us that we can bring all our anxieties, fears and needs to God in prayer. Paul is teaching us that when we do this, when we open our hearts in honesty and vulnerability to God through prayer, we will receive his gift of peace. For there is one who promises to be with us – and stay with us - in all the dark and scary places of our lives. He is called “Immanuel” because he is the God who is with us!
Brian Coffey
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2 comments:
Today's devotion really got to me, and I had to say something about it. This is a simply beautiful message, Pastor Coffey, and I know it will stay with me, now at Christmas time, and afterward, throughout the new year. Thank you.
This year, I can't help focusing on the most beautiful part of CHristmas (in my opinion): that Immanuel came into the world, to be WITH us. With the economy still ravaging so many people, and so many facing sickness and loss and heartache, I find this message of Christmas - that He is with us NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH - to be the most applicable and poignant. It's hard to say "MERRY Christmas" to friends who are suffering. But Emmanuel brings Hope and Peace to even the worst situations...
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