Peace Which Surpasses All Understanding

Guest Writer tonight - Alan Lucas.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV

My troubles were great,

Like a crushing burden upon me.

I thought that I would soon perish

Beneath their unbearable weight.

My mind was perplexed

And in great distress.

I could no longer bear the burden,

I’m losing control

I'm losing control.

Impending doom consumed me.

Every thought was of darkness

And the evil that so tormented me.

My mind was being torn apart.

How much longer,

How much longer.

How can I survive.

Then amid the darkness,

In a moment in time

I remembered You.

You were the good

Who once delivered me

From all my guilt and shame.

You removed the crushing weight

Of all my many sins

And caused me to rejoice.

You covered me with Your love

And filled me with Your presence.

You caused me to hope in faith

And to experience Your wonderful peace.

You led me to Your word

And taught me of Your love.

How great is Your love

That You would give Your son

To redeem such a one as I.

How great is the love of the Son

Who willingly laid down His life.

Who laid it down

For His enemy,

As a gift of love

For me.

An enemy I was no more

But a friend You called me.

How beautiful is Your grace,

No man deserves,

Certainly not I.

But you gave yourself

For the sake of your own good pleasure.

It pleased You to die in my place

To display Your glory to all

For all creation to see.

You glorified Your righteousness

And made known your justice to all

So that all might understand

That You can do all things,

That nothing is impossible for You.

I fell to my knees

And remembered Your salvation.

I called to You for help

Once again I called Your Name.

I felt Your hand upon my back

And heard You softly speak,

“It’s going to be alright.”

And then Your peace

Again returned to me.

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Prayer:

Father,

Thank You for Your guidance and peace and for all the impossibly wonderful acts of love You've done for us. Thank You for friends like Alan and Patsy who point us back to You and Your righteousness. Father, I ask that You strengthen Alan as he faithfully continues to worship You while learning to live with only the love Patsy left behind as she made her way home to You. I pray that prayer for all those who are working their way through grief. Help us to understand in our hearts that yes, people die and leave, but their love never dies nor leaves - just as You've promised to never leave us. Keep us ever close to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen