Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Peace Beyond All Understanding

Well, there's less than a month left until we head out for our trip to Uganda, Africa. I have to admit I'm getting a little anxious about being on an airplane for more than 30 hours. I don't sleep well when flying and reading a book for 30 hours doesn't tickle my fancy either. I just have to think of a way to keep myself occupied without loosing it and threatening to jump from the plane mid-way there. No, I'm not a good flyer. This is something I've noticed as I've gotten older. I no longer have the patience for flying or driving long distances. After about an hour I'm asking, "Are we there yet?"

To add to my stress level, Robbie (my sister) and I have decided to put our home on the market for sale. We are interested in finding something a little bit larger than what we currently have. We couldn't have picked a more difficult time. Here we are in an economic time that is great for buying, but not necessarily for selling. In addition, we're getting prepared to for our trip to Uganda. Trying to coordinate the selling of our house and the buying of a new house along with the time we're going to be out of the country is nothing but fun. Do we close before we leave or do we wait until we get back home? Will anyone be able to reach us while we're out in the middle of nowhere to answer questions about home inspections and so on? I don't want to think about that right now. I just put it all in God's hands. Not that He's not busy, but He has pretty big hands.

The Bible tells us in 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."

Why is that such a hard thing to do? To rest in the peace of God and not be anxious about anything would be such a great feeling, yet we worry, struggle, fret and wring our hands over every detail of our lives. In a way it's like we're saying to God, "Sorry God, but I just can't trust you with my life. I'm afraid you will steer me wrong. You may not understand all the fine writing or know just how I am feeling inside. No, I can't take that chance." But what's the alternative here? To just do everything within our own knowledge, power and strength? I don't want that either. To me, there is no other alternative but to trust God with every aspect of my life and to believe that He knows what's best for me better than I know myself.

The verse uses the phrase, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..." In other words we don't have to understand everything up front. We just have to trust that God has it all under control and He will make sure it works out for our good. Wow, there is peace in that. Our job is to present our requests, to thank Him for what He's done and is going to do, and then trust Him beyond all of our own understanding. God has the job of taking care of the rest. I want to walk in that kind of peace. I don't want to struggle with understanding every detail of how things are going to work out in the end. I want to release my problems to Him and rest in the knowledge that He has broad shoulders and that He created me and that He can handle anything I give Him. Who else am I going to trust like that? I can't think of anyone who is willing to take on that kind of responsibility.

So selling, buying, traveling all at one time? He can work that out for me. I'm just going to rest in His peace and rely on His nature and character. He's never failed me yet. I know He won't fail me now. It's all yours God.

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