Then you will experience God’s PEACE, which exceeds anything we can understand. His PEACE will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:7
God’s Peace is far beyond our understanding. You will recognize it when you experience it for the first time, because it will leave you and others unable to explain how such peace was possible in that situation.
What is your worst situation you can imagine? Just scroll through your life and consider the question.
Maybe you think you are in it now if you are unvaccinated and have just lost your job in the midst of Covid, as several of our friends are currently experiencing.
Four of my potential worst case scenarios come to mind:
- Marissa in hospital with appendicitis and the Dr told me to take her home, there was nothing wrong with her.
- Facing prison in Sulawesi after a threat by the Head of Immigration.
- My first heart attack in Jakarta convinced I was about to die.
- Facing the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The experience with Marissa in Auckland hospital when she was 5 was one of my first times of knowing the Peace of God that passes understanding. It was probably the first time I felt God’s peace when everything was telling me this was very bad. A doctor who wouldn’t listen and was telling me my daughter was fine when I knew she wasn’t. He looked at me as though I knew nothing and told me to take her home; that she would be fine in a couple of days. It was just a little kiddie stomach ache. Her appendix burst and peritonitis set in, but we both had the sense that she was going to be alright despite the circumstances we were in. I couldn’t explain it but I could feel God’s peace. People commented after the event saying, “That must have been awful.” But it wasn’t, it was probably the first time I experienced the Peace that passes understanding.
In the Nugget where I told of being threatened with prison in Sulawesi, again I can’t explain why I felt peace. The fact that the Head of Immigration was yelling at me and telling me he would throw me in jail that day, didn’t phase me at all. I knew God had this situation in hand and I didn’t need to worry. I hadn’t read a Bible verse, I hadn’t had a Word from God. I just felt His Peace and knew this was going to work out fine. My colleague, Hengky, was surprised by my apparent peace, contrasted by his tension. He told me later he was tense because he was the guy who was responsible for the liaison with the government offices. What if he had to report to the Director to tell him Pak Ian had been taken to prison. He kept saying over and over in the days that followed, “Pak Ian was so calm and untroubled and suddenly said, ‘Ok Bapak, we will be going now. Thank you very much.” Then he just walked out, after the man had been yelling at him for a long time.” That time I had had an unexplained Peace and just sensed at that moment that I should call his bluff and bravado and thank him for his assistance and leave. Which I did, much to Hengky’s surprise. Another time when I knew the Peace of God that passes understanding.
From the moment I felt the first chest pains after playing tennis to when I was lying on the steel bench finding it hard to breath without pain I felt a calm and a peace. My first thoughts when the pain grew more intense was a quiet calmness. I had thought, when I was in the car and going to hospital, that I could be facing my own death, but I felt at peace. I had a sense that I may well die as I waited on the bench in the emergency department with the pain increasing but I sensed God’s peace and was not anxious or troubled in the least. I had been praying Philippians 4:6-7 a few minutes earlier and knew I had nothing to worry about. The worst thing that could happen was that I would soon be in the presence of God and so there was no need to stress. Seemingly, the Peace of God that passes understanding enveloped me at that moment.
On hearing the urologist’s prognosis of prostate cancer I thought, Oh so that is what that Word from God via Fatima, the lady with the prophetic word in Brazil was all about. That was the big thing that my family and I were going to be facing. Oh well, no problem. Fatima has said, “But you don’t have to worry, God wants you to know that He has got you and you don’t have to worry.” On hearing the urologist’s words, both Tania and I were at peace. Yes, God has already spoken to me about this while I was in Brazil, so everything was fine; there is no need to worry. I told our daughters by text message that the urologist had told us I had prostate cancer but a woman in Brazil had told me I was going to face something big but God had it under control. Yes, God had it under control, that was true. But I hadn’t figured on my daughter’s reaction at being told such news by What’s App. It was the Peace of God that passes understanding that held us firm after being told the diagnosis. The peace that passes understanding wasn’t present when facing Marissa over her reaction with me telling her this news by What’s App. However that same Peace from God returned again when I was talking with the urologist at a subsequent appointment and he commented on how untroubled I had been when told the news. I then told him the source of the Peace I felt.
Three Bible accounts come to mind:
- Peter in jail in Jerusalem facing certain death. (Acts 12)
- Paul with Silas in chained in the stocks in jail in Philippi in an earthquake. (Acts 16)
- Paul with strangers on the ship in the worst storm in living memory. (Acts 27)
How can you be so peaceful in situations like THAT? Yet each time they were. When Peter walked into that prayer meeting in Mary’s house, he had first-hand experience of the intervention of God on his behalf. From that moment on, Peter knew the power of Christ’s resurrection. Read the Gems I have written on the account and let them sink in as to what Peter had been facing. [Gem 1593 to 1600]. This too, without a doubt, is the Peace of God that passes understanding.
Imagine what Paul and Silas felt having experienced first-hand God’s intervention in the jail in Philippi. Both he and Silas gave to God the sacrifice of praise through tortured lungs and they watched as God came in power to free them and astound their fellow jailbirds with what He could do. Can you imagine Paul shrinking back fearful ever again after an experience like that? Paul had now tasted and seen the resurrection power of God working on his and Silas’ behalf. He could also look back to his encounter with the Living Resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. Do you realise now how Paul could write to the Philippians and remind them (yes remind them) about knowing Him, knowing the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. These aren’t just nice sounding religious words. This is personal experience leading to knowing first hand God’s resurrection power. Paul’s words were never theoretical, second hand, vicarious truth. They are always personal encounters with God in the presence of witnesses. [Gem 1693 to 1696] The Peace of God which passes understanding works in a cumulative way with each occurrence of God’s intervention.
Finally, after all of Paul’s experiences recorded for us in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (Paul being one of those apostles) we have the account of the rescue from the storm in Acts 27. In a life and death situation were he was either going to drown or be killed by the guards, Paul hears a word from an angel sent by God telling him he will stand before Caesar and furthermore God will save all on the ship with him. Imagine the peace and feeling of trust in God that would accompany that experience. [Gem 1875 – 1876]. The Peace that passes understanding settles on you after God has given you another personal reassurance that He has got this.
In all of these situations God’s peace came at the worst moments to keep us firm and peaceful in challenging circumstances. Peace counts for nothing in the best of situations. Anyone can feel peaceful when things are going well. The real test comes when you are stretched to your limit and without hope. In those situations you wonder how on earth you can feel peaceful when all indications are to the contrary. Yet you do and you can’t understand why! That friends is the sign of God’s peace WHICH PASSES UNDERSTANDING. Those are situations when you can’t fake it till you make it. They are the raw emotive moments when seemingly there is no way out; yet you feel at peace and can’t explain why.
Remember Paul was writing to the Philippians. What better account to have in our minds when thinking about their reaction to his letter knowing they had been involved with one of Paul’s God Peace moments which has happened in their city. You can bet they knew the details of what happened in the jail in Philippi. I even suspect they heard the account of what happened to Peter in Jerusalem. I think the disciples would have gossiped the Gospel all over the Mediterranean. At the time of Paul’s letter to them while he was in chains in Rome, they were facing persecution of their own back in Philippi. It all fits, which of course makes it that much more real and poignant.
You will know it (really know it and live in it) when you have walked in God’s Peace over a period of time and learned how to appropriate it. When over the time of your race here on earth you also learned to know Him, know the power of His resurrection (and the fellowship of HIs sufferings) as well as having experienced those moments of Peace which passes all human understanding.
When peace like a river attendeth my way
Horatio Spafford & Philip Bliss
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.
J. Ortberg
Then you will experience God’s PEACE, which exceeds anything we can understand. His PEACE will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:7
It is not just a verse ln the Bible; it’s reality and it’s the gateway to you experiencing That Peace too. You now know what “Then” refers to.
Ian Vail
This has been my two thousandth Gem. Who could have figured I would reach this milestone. My midnight friend (after Luke 11:5-8), wrote to me yesterday to congratulate me on the 2,000th Gem the day before I wrote it.
Hey Bro, Happy Gem2KDay for tomorrow. Wow!! What a blessing as you say, what a privilege. I recently spotted the cardboard box containing my printout of Luke . . . that great stack of paper. Got me to wondering if Ian has a word count in his system, I wonder how many words there are in 2K Gems. Bless you Bro.
Mike Clancey
I am not going to count the words in all 2,000 Gems; I have the 2001st Gem to write.
Ian I think it is worth saying that the culmunative effect of Paul knowing peace when it truly mattered, would surely have also been present at his execution.
Not just the shadow of death, but the reality of it.
That sets our eyes not on the outcome but on His sovereign love.
Indeed it would have, I agree with that. The accumulated effect of all of Paul’s God encounters would have enabled him to face anything thrown at him. I think for Paul he would have been looking forward to stepping into the Life of the Age to Come. I know I will, on the basis of my God encounters and Paul’s comment in Phil 1:23.
you do have the 2001st to write and we all wait with bated breath!
Amazing simply amazing.
Thanks Ross for your regular support and encouragement.
Wow what an orsum Gem for no 2k. Congrats bro for your faithfulness, perseverance and wisdom. I could say more but I won’t. Bless you friend.
Thanks Kev. It was in my mind before I put fingers to keyboard and I thought; YES, this is a good one for the 2000th Gem!
After all that is what makes the Peace of God go beyond our understanding – how it comes on us at the very times we should not feel peace. No wonder Paul encourages us to pray and pray and pray some more; because he knew God’s Peace that passes understanding multiple times over his life journey. May it be the case for every one of us too.