“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6–7, NKJV
If I’m being honest, when I go to God in prayer, what I want is answers. Like, the exact answer I had in mind before I came. If I come and say, Lord, my landlord is about to throw me out, what I want is money for rent or for Him to shut my landlord up. If I come and say, Lord, I am sick, what I expect is healing, immediately. If I come and report my husband, which I mostly do when he annoys me, what I want is for the Lord to go and give him a strong knock on the head for annoying His beloved daughter. (And I know how silly I sound trying to tell God what to do… the audacity, right? but stay with me)
Is it just me?
What I do not expect is peace first. I’m panicking. I’m before the presence of God. And God says, here is peace.
Because you would think that His first response would be to solve the issue. But that is not always the case. That was not even the case when Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, and there was a storm. When they woke Him up and said, Jesus, we are perishing. Are You not going to do anything about it? Jesus addressed the state of their hearts first. He said, why are you afraid, O you of little faith. Then He got up, spoke to the wind and the waves, and said, Peace, be still. And even then, what He spoke was still peace.
Peace for all
Beloved, I am inclined to believe that peace is not just what you get at the end. Peace is not something God gives you just to manage you while you wait for the “real” answer. I believe peace is the answer, especially when anxiety is the problem. Because what an anxious person needs is peace. However, God says this peace is what you get when you pray “in everything.” Meaning whether you are praying because you are anxious or not, you get peace.
When you are at peace, you can hear His voice. The same voice that has been speaking to you for a long time. When you are at peace, you can remember His promises. You can pray from a place of faith. You can declare from a place of confidence. You are no longer running. You are standing, fully clothed in the armour of God, and after doing everything, you are still standing.
Peace is your reward when you pray.
Don’t get me wrong. Getting the money for the rent is a solution. Getting instant healing is a solution. And yes, sometimes God does heal instantly. Sometimes He does provide the money immediately. But not before giving you peace.
Because the Bible says:
“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’” (Isaiah 30:15, NKJV)
Notice the order. Quietness comes before confidence. When there is no quietness, trust is out the window. Faith is out the window. So God answers you first with peace. So if you have prayed about something and your eyes are fixed only on the physical manifestation of what He has already answered in the spirit, you are looking in the wrong direction.
The first thing you should expect is peace. That peace is the answer.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart.”
So speak over your troubled mind and say, peace, be still.
Prayer
Father, I thank You. I speak over my heart and I say, peace, be still.
Father, I thank You for peace.
Peace in my mind.
Peace in my body.
Peace in my spirit.
Peace in my soul.
Peace all over.
I am at peace.
I am not anxious.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Shalom.
