July 15, 2023

Philippians 4: 6, 7 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)

Peace does not happen on its own.*

I saw this, posted on a group’s Facebook page: If you are going through something difficult like a death, loss of job, divorce, or anything else that is difficult, what do you NOT like to hear or to be told? Would you rather just be listened to unless you ask for advice? The group members had a lot to say – some of it bitter – about people who say the wrong thing; but most of all, the replies revealed that when it comes to finding comfort, we don’t all look for it in the same places.

What words of comfort can I offer to someone who is in an inconsolable situation? We may quote passages of scripture that offer hope – Romans 8: 28 (“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . .”)  – for example. But how does that help to heal a broken heart? Or, Philippians 4: 13 (“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”) But is that any consolation for my loved one whose son has decided that he no longer believes in God? What comfort is that to my friend whose husband was killed when he and his bicycle were hit by a car? Or my friend who is facing dialysis for the rest of her life because her transplanted kidney is no longer functioning?

There are two false – and conflicting - conclusions that we often reach about despair. The first is that there really is something we can say to help – if only we could think of it. The second is that there is no comfort to be had. But here are the facts: there is no magical turn of phrase that is guaranteed to make someone feel better (so quit trying to come up with one); and, there really is a source of comfort that is beyond human understanding.

Here, Paul tells us how to tap into that source. Instead of being anxious, he says, lay it all out to God. Do not be afraid to present your requests to God – and don’t forget to be thankful for God’s provision. As a result, the peace of God which defies all human understanding will be yours. God’s peace is not hope that things are going to get better. It is not assurance that everything happens for a reason. It is the promise that in the midst of suffering, where there is no earthly comfort, there is peace beyond reason, beyond hope. Offer those words to your hurting friend.

Trust the one true King to bear your burdens, to hold your fears close, and to calm your panic and anxieties.*