February 20, 2007 God's Protection and Peace in Life's Storms Philippians 4:6-7 Emotional storms of inner turmoil are difficult to handle. Grief, fear, and worry can cause us great distress. To see us through life’s difficulties, God provides His protection and peace. But protection doesn’t mean that troubles won't occur. Jesus allowed the disciples to experience the fear and anxiety of being in a boat on a tumultuous sea. He permitted them to suffer because He had something far more important in mind. He wanted to teach them to recognize their own helplessness, His sufficiency, and their dependence on Him. God’s peace is not dependent upon the calming of our circumstances or the removal of external pressures. Nor does it mean the absence of conflict. His promised peace comes in three ways. First, Jesus Himself becomes our peace. Through His death, He reconciled us to the Father. And we are no longer His enemies. (Romans 5:1) In God, we can be at rest. Second, when we’re in a right relationship with the Father, we have the ability to live at peace with our fellow man. (Ephesians 2:14) Through God, we have the power to choose forgiveness, to keep no record of wrongs, and to show love to our enemies. Third, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit enables us to experience an increasing sense of inner tranquility. (Galatians 5:22-23) God provides our spiritual needs to both endure and grow stronger in our Christian faith. What challenges do you face? Are you using what God has provided?
There can be no testimony without a test. I am praying to go through this test and come out the other end with a new and better marriage then before.
