A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you lie in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Have you ever had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?

On a Friday afternoon after a routine weekly allergy shot, my body went into anaphylactic shock requiring a trip to urgent care. After some immediate care and a weeks worth of meds to reset my system I was sent home. This alone would be enough of a trial for anyone.

However, that was only the start. During that reset week there was a flood from the washing machine resulting in carpets being shampooed, an $880 auto repair, and a major work emergency. It was an “if anything can go wrong, it will” kind of a week. Have you ever been there?

Maybe it wasn’t an allergic reaction but a sick child. Not a broken washer but a broken heart. Not an auto repair but running out of gas. Maybe it wasn’t a work emergency but the loss of a job. Fill in the blank with any unexpected problem and suddenly our faith and our Christian character is put to the test.

Whether it be a moment, weeks, months, or a season of trials, it is important for us to slow down our responses. It is easy for us to respond like the world would with pouting, throwing a fit, cursing or even worse ranting on social media. We have all been guilty of one if not all of these. Who can blame us. After all, we are only human.

Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians that during these time we are not to worry but instead we are to tell God what we need and thank Him for what He has done. Easier said than done. I know that, but Paul goes on to tell us that when we turn to God first then we will experience His peace which we can never truly understand. Why? Because who experiences a diagnosis of terminal cancer and has peace? Who experiences a death of a child and has peace? Who loses a job and has peace? That’s why it is beyond our understanding. It is a God thing!

Why is this peace so important? God’s peace works as a guard for our hearts and our minds. Picture this in your mind with me. A beautiful spectacular castle full of life with a guard placed at the palace gate stopping everyone or thing that enters in or exits the palace. His job is to ensure that  whatever is going out or comes in is approved by the King. That is the King’s order. The guard at the gate is the first protection to the Palace. Are you picturing this? Now image that your heart and mind is that beautiful spectacular palace, God is the King and His peace is that guard.

When we pray God places a guard of peace at the gate to our heart and mind. This guard of peace protects us against thinking, doing, or saying anything that is not a representation of Him. Instead of spewing words or actions of anger or worry, we respond  through the filter of God’s peace with words that reflect God’s character. And that’s just the beginning.

God’s peace also guards what can come in to your heart and mind. Our enemy would love nothing more than to walk through the gate to our heart and mind with a sword of fear, worry, anger, frustration, or surrender. When we pray, God places a guard of peace around our hearts and our minds which blocks the enemy’s attempt to enter or to speak into our lives. This peace never sleeps, never weakens, never gives up. Instead it offers a calm assurance to the palace.

So the next time you have a moment or a season of trials, slow down and pray first. Then you can walk with confidence knowing that God is guarding your heart and mind through those trials. Oh, what joy floods my soul just to know that God’s peace, that surpasses my understanding, guards my heart and mind.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Let’s pray: My precious Father, thank you for inspiring Paul to write words that comfort me today. I want to talk with You daily about everything including making my heart’s request known to you. I want to share my worry, my fears, my anger, my concerns along with my hopes and my dreams. As I share with You, help me to leave my cares with You and as Your word promises, guard my heart and mind with Your incomprehensible peace. Your care for me is so great and never ending , thank You! In Jesus Mighty Name I pray. Amen.