By Elizabeth Prata
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).
It’s a grace to have this peace. It’s a blessing to work at employing this peace.
But it’s not just great to have this peace. It’s not simply a blessing to hold this peace. This peace performs a function.
Read the full verses, after the comma where a lot of people stop-
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).
The peace of God that passes all understanding acts. It does something- it guards your heart and mind.
Why does peace of God guard our heart and mind? Why do we need it to?
Anxiety is a peace disturber. Worry is an intruder. When our peace is disturbed it upsets our equilibrium. We Christians are not always ‘ohm meditative’ calm. We do fear, worry, have cares and concerns.
Anxiety or worry or a human fearfulness is a display of lack of trust in the Lord.
I battle this myself. I like my creature comforts. I like my routines. I dislike surprises. I dislike interruptions. But life is full of surprises and interruptions. Paul was surprised by shipwreck, jail, accusations, robbers, and more. His entire Christian life was one of a lack of peace…IF he had not had Christ. He learned to go with the flow as we say. He leaned into Jesus by looking up rather than around. He didn’t see the slimy walls of the jail, he didn’t see the waves bashing his boat, he didn’t see the wounds from beatings. He saw Christ and Him crucified.
This is an exceptionally hard thing to do, but clinging to the peace of Jesus that passes all comprehension is a must. Why? Once again, it works IN us to guard our heart and mind. Without it, we tend to let worry crack our mind and evil thoughts begin to fill in the cracks. What if… How about…? I can’t… Unrest settles into negativity, then distrust in God, then accusations against God. Oh no! May it never be!
It defies comprehension that Paul sang in chains in jail. It defies comprehension he could write that he was glad to be incarcerated- because the gospel went out more strongly. He learned to be content. Matthew Henry in Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible explains Philippians 4:7-
This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, Isa. 26:3.
John MacArthur explains Paul’s joy ‘in the Lord’ as seen in Philippians 4, “the believer’s joy exists in sphere unrelated to circumstances of life, but related to an unassailable, unchanging relationship with the sovereign Lord“. Note in the MacArthur Daily Bible, for Oct 9.
Paul said a few verses later that he has learned to be content in all circumstances. He certainly didn’t instantly become sanguine. He learned it.
Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. (Philippians 4:11).
HOW??
Matthew Henry again- We have here an account of Paul’s learning, not that which he got at the feet of Gamaliel, but that which he got at the feet of Christ. He had learnt to be content; and that was the lesson he had as much need to learn as most men, considering the hardships and sufferings with which he was exercised. He was in bonds, and imprisonments, and necessities, often; but in all he had learnt to be content, that is, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it.
Matthew Henry mentions that Paul ‘brought his mind to his condition…’ It’s in the mind. We read that we should think on these things.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8).
The peace of God is foremost peace from our battle against Him due to our sin. This is the best peace of all because it’s a great gift and it’s eternal. Then, when untrust, worry, fear, unrest begin to intrude, turn your mind to Christ. Ponder the excellence of His sacrifice, His Gospel, His love eternal and unfailing. I am speaking to myself as much as to anyone reading or hearing this essay. I need to learn this peace so it will guard my heart and mind. Will you practice with me?
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