Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.

Philippians 4:6-7, Easy to Read Version

Do you see your life as a series of problems or a series of problem-solving experiences?

Jesus tells us we will face problems and hard times, but He also tells us to have faith in Him. The Apostle Paul encourages us to ask God for what we need and most importantly to believe God's peace within us will guard our thoughts and emotions so that we experience freedom and true breakthroughs.

Often good ideas and best solutions present themselves when we let go of our fears and insecurities. This is because when we learn to rest in the truth of our life in Christ, we are free from the illusion our fear creates to deceive us to think our problems are too big for God to solve. Put simply, you cannot worry and trust God at the same time. It is either you trust God or you trust yourself. And it is not hard to guess which option is better.

The gospel is the gospel of peace (Ephesians 2:17; 6:15) and Paul understood this incomprehensible peace in a very practical way. When he wrote the epistle to the Philippians, Paul was actually suffering for the gospel in a dark Roman dungeon. Yet he was full of joy in the Lord in spite of his miserable circumstances. This amazing peace gives Paul the impetus to urge and instruct the Philippians to pursue a prayer life built upon the gospel foundation of their identity and inheritance in Christ.

We may see obstacles but God sees opportunities.

It is only through God's peace that we have the ability to walk through every circumstance with joy and confidence, knowing God has the power to make a way. If God can open the Red Sea for the children of Israel to escape their Egyptian pursuers or multiply the two fish and five loaves to feed the hungry crowds, what makes you think He won't deliver you again and again from all kinds and forms of evil? This promise is found in the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.

Jesus always assures us with these words, "Fear not, I am with you". And because Jesus always tells the truth, we can trust and take Him at His Word. In doing so, we find rest and hope and salvation in Him.