"God is in Control"

I really like it when I feel like I am controlling things… I think we all feel this way to some degree. Knowing that I have all my ducks in a row so that no surprises come my way is where I am most in my comfort zone. But no matter how hard I try to control things, the bottom line is that’s not how life works.

“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

While reading this passage in Philippians, I found myself asking the question, “what if for once, we dealt with these anxieties the right way, rather than bottling them up and giving into them?” This is obviously easier said than done, and the reason why is because it literally can’t be done without God. Paul made himself clear, not only are we supposed to be anxious for NOTHING, but that the peace we so often seek to keep us from giving into our anxieties can only be found through Christ and cannot be gained apart from Him. This peace cannot be explained to a science. If it could, it wouldn’t be worth obsessing over because it would leave as soon as it came. This peace can only come from God and God alone. The irony of this text is Paul is writing this in prison, to Christians who are heavily discouraged because they are being persecuted for their faith, and in return they are dealing with their anxiety by giving into conflict with each other. So the question becomes, where are we giving in and letting anxiety take control of our lives rather than taking those anxieties and giving them up to God?

Paul makes it clear in these verses, we CAN find peace in Christ, because where we have no control over what happens, God does…and He’s proven that through the hope we have in Christ. The reality is, Jesus promises us, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, He will never leave us alone. If we are alone and beaten by our anxieties, it’s because we are beating ourselves up, not because God wishes that burden upon us. This is why Paul says “Be anxious for nothing” but instead “through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” turn to Jesus. So remember my friend, not only do we have access to God through prayer, but He can and will grant us His peace if we just turn to Him, because He is always in control.

Many Blessings!

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