Peace

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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.”
- Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

I have an executive level acquaintance who has been unemployed for a number of months. When I text him and ask him how he is doing, he almost always responds this way, “I have good days and I have bad days. I am fearful but I am not afraid.”

I have a friend that has been working at the same job now for 6 or 7 years. He has a boss that comes across as harsh, cold and heartless with every employee with whom he comes in contact. Anytime the boss visits, my friend is on edge concerned for his job and the jobs of his team. When I see and ask him how he is doing, with a smile on his face he almost always responds this way, “I have good days and I have bad days. It all depends on who I talk with and how much damage control I must do. I am fearful but I am not afraid.”

And the stories go on and on: Unemployment…
Caustic work situations…
Lack of company loyalty or support…
The overwhelming pressure to win at all costs…
Illnesses, cancer, and health scares…
Marriage issues…
Life in and of itself…
Etc. and so on.

And my heart hurts with each story...

Yet, time and again I hear it, “ I am fearful but I am not afraid.”

In other words, they have a healthy fear of the unknown and what might be around the corner. However, they are not afraid.

You see, each person with the above mentioned issues are Believers. Followers of Jesus. They struggle and scrap and try to make ends meet while they also seek Jesus and strive to know Him more.

And through their seeking, they find peace in their hearts and in their minds. They have learned to rejoice and praise Him, no matter the situation, no matter the peak or the valley, no matter the stress, the heart ache, the success. They continue to learn to pray and give thanks and praise in the storm or the sunshine. And the world around them sees Jesus at work in them and through them.

And as I contemplate my own junk, frustrations, issues...
And as I contemplate all the many blessings I have been given, I wonder...
Does the world see Him in me and through me?

Do I rejoice in the Lord? Always?
Is my gentleness evident to all?
Am I anxious about anything, everything, nothing?
Do I, with thanksgiving in my heart, take everything in prayer and petition to the Lord?
Does peace beyond understanding flow from my words and actions, as it fills my heart and mind?

Does what I say I believe match my actions…
My words…
My responses…
My life?

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice...

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem