Moving Past Understanding
By Elin Henderson
“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!”
Philippians 4:6,7 (NKJV)
Who doesn’t know and love these precious Scriptures? How many of us have gone to this again and again in time of need to find comfort, help and peace? There are so many nuggets of truth and hope that can be found locked away in these two verses. By Elin Henderson
“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!”
Philippians 4:6,7 (NKJV)
Recently, I was reflecting on the passage sandwiched between what to do (don’t be anxious and give it to God) and the result (a peaceful mind). There are really two ways to interpret this section and both are equally rich and beautiful.
When we let go of our anxieties and commit them to the only One who can truly handle them, a peace that we can’t possibly explain or understand is promised to take over. How many of us have experienced a peace, a calm rest, in the midst of the storm like the disciples did when Jesus calms the storm in the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39 & Matthew 8:26))? Peace is what the world cries out for and desperately needs, yet what always remains just out of its reach, since it is sourced only in the God of the universe! We have a promise of that peace here! You can’t explain it! It’s just a “God Thing!”
Yet, there is a different kind of peace that He gives, as well. Not just freedom from our fears and doubts like when Jesus calmed the seas. But, a peace which “passes understanding”…in other words, it moves past understanding to simple faith and trust. This is like Peter in Matthew 14:29 when, despite the storm, he was able to step out of the boat in faith, walk on water and do the impossible. Or when the unexpected comes and things don’t work out as planned, we have a peace in the midst of that storm. We need to get past seeing things with human eyes and see them through the eyes of the Savior! What is a storm when you are with the Creator of the seas?
Oh, to have a faith and peace that passes understanding and doesn’t require an explanation or reason. One that simply steps out in faith and sees the hand of the Lord at work! “Move us past understanding today, oh Lord!”
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas has the Lord given you inexplicable peace in the midst of storms?
2. In what areas is He calling you to move past understanding and find His peace?
FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 119:69; Ephesians 3:19
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and eight-year-old Elias.
