Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
To have “the peace of God” is to be in a state of mental and heartfelt tranquility, even while we are passing through the most awful tribulations of this present life. In this context, “peace” is not necessarily to be separated from tribulations; but, for “born again” (John 3:1-8) Children of God, it is to have a blessed sense of wellbeing, even while the storms of tribulation are raging in our lives. These tribulations come in the form of civil disturbance, various forms of persecution, Church troubles, family troubles, health troubles, occupational troubles, sin-guilt troubles, etc. When we are standing in the very midst of some “fiery trial” (I Peter 4:12), “God” sends His “peace” (a blessed sense of wellbeing) to calm us and to quite our troubled souls. This “peace of God” explains how a Pastor can keep his composure as he stands and preaches the funeral of some precious soul that He has loved and served with for many years. The presence of this mighty “peace of God” is how a person can stand up and keep going, with a smile, when their whole world is turned upside down by some great catastrophe. In this context, those who enjoy this blessed “peace of God” are those who strive to “be of the same mind in the Lord”, “help those” who faithfully serve the Lord, “Rejoice in the Lord alway”, “Let” their “moderation be known unto all men”, are “careful for nothing” (don’t waste time worrying), and who spend much time in “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:1-6). Let us take good courage in the Lord and “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15)!