Victory Amidst Turmoil
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation of uncertainty, of turmoil or conflict or fear … and no matter how much you pray, God hasn’t stepped in to change your situation? It’s unsettling isn’t it, because we’re left wondering “Well, is God ever going to show up? Does God even care?”
But you see whilst sometimes God calms the storm, other times He allows it to rage on so that He can calm your heart instead. Because having victory in the midst of turmoil is a beautiful gift that He wants you to have.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Now that’s a nice theory I guess, but it becomes so much more than a theory, when you realise that the Apostle Paul wrote those words, chained to a Roman guard, in a dungeon awaiting execution. Now all of a sudden it becomes a shining light, a beacon if you will, in your dungeon and mine, when we’re going through tumultuous times.
Joy in the face of suffering is victory. Peace which surpasses all understanding, in the face of a death sentence, is victory.
It’s the same peace that Jesus had in the Garden of Gethsemane after He prayed. And it’s the very same peace that God wants you to have, in the midst of your turmoil and trials.
In many cases, we will never know or understand, at least not in this life, why God allows us to suffer and another person to be delivered. Or why last time He delivered us quickly whilst this time it seems to be going on and on.
When Job asked God those questions from the midst of his suffering, God replied pretty firmly by saying, “Well, actually Job, it’s none of your business.” God is, after all, God.
But I can tell you this – that God wants you to have victory in the midst of your turmoil. That’s a piece of wisdom that the Holy Spirit will tuck away in your heart, and pull out the next time you need it.
So that instead of worrying and fretting, you go to Him with thanksgiving in your heart, right in the middle of the turmoil, pour out your heart to Him and receive the promise of a peace beyond all understanding, a peace that in natural terms doesn’t make sense, a supernatural peace that will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
What a gift. And by the Spirit, it’s a gift that has been written on your heart just now.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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