I was reading some of my favorite verses this morning and the thought came to me, what do we do when things go wrong?
And they do, you know…
A flat tire, a broken washing machine, an explosion in the kitchen – these are the simple things but what about the bigger messes? Cutbacks at work, downsizing, illness, divorce, fire, hurricanes, political upheaval, what do we do then.
“ Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9 You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.
10 The Lord has made me very grateful that at last you have thought about me once again. Actually, you were thinking about me all along, but you didn’t have any chance to show it. 11 I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. 13 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:6-13 CEV
Paul was a man who knew what it was to have things go wrong.
He was thrown into prison more than once, run out of towns for preaching. Once he was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked, snake bit, hungry, left afloat in the sea and he spent his final days under house arrest, not being able to travel to visit the saints he loved.
Yet, his letters were filled with encouragement for them and for us. He showed us how to live a life of faithfulness, trusting God in every situation!
I love verse 9. “Follow my example and God will give you peace”.
Peace? Peace!
And how do we achieve this? By praying about everything, worrying about nothing, and thinking on the goodness of God. Whatever is true, honest, pure, right, kind and holy. In others words having our minds stayed or anchored to God.
“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV
In the middle of the mess, we can trust. When the waves are ready to swamp our boats, we can trust. When we’re in the lions’ den or facing the giants, we can trust!
“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13 CEV
No matter where, no matter what, no matter how big the mess, Christ promises us the strength we need to go through it in victory.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV
And we will be a sweet-smelling testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness!