Philippians 4:6-7

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” vs. 7

Paul told the Philippians not to worry about anything but in everything, with prayer and supplication, to let their requests be made known to God. That’s a worthy thought, but no matter who we are there will come a time when we will struggle to find the proper words for our prayers. The circumstances can vary. Perhaps a loved one has been snatched from life to death in an instant and our hearts are broken. Or a family member or friend struggles to escape the unrelenting clutches of dementia or Alzheimer’s. We want to pray, but what shall we pray for? We know that no words can erase the pain of death, or halt the progressive illness that’s taking our friend from light to darkness. But following Paul, we do the only thing we can, we keep on praying, and out of our babbling and confusion, the God who is beyond all human comprehension gives peace. We don’t get answers or miracles, but that deep and abiding sense that somehow in the Divine Mystery, all things are going to work together for good. And we learn that the best we can do for those caught up in the intractable miseries of life is to pray that they would be covered by a blanket of peace. When understanding fails us, we continue to trust that God is, and in every circumstance offers the deep peace that human hearts crave.

Thought for the Day: When am I at peace?