The peace of God

Exactly one month ago today, Marvin was checked into the hospital on what would be his last admittance.  

Over the past few years, his being sick and in the hospital was always accompanied by some level of stress which inhibited me from eating or sleeping properly.  Although I knew he was in good hands and receiving the best care possible, it was still hard to see the one I love suffer.

Earlier this year, I took a class at a local Bible college.  My professor shared the story of when he lost his mom.  He was in seminary school when she became very ill.   During a 7-week period of time prior to her death, he prayed for her, thanked God for her life and believed for the will of God to be done concerning her.  He shared with us how Philippians 4:6 (NASB), was the Scripture he practiced.  It reads, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God." 


When his mom passed, my professor said Philippians 4:7 (NASB) kicked in which reads, "And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  He shared with us how close he was to his mom and how he knew that at any moment after her passing, he would "crack up".  In other words, he'd become so overwhelmed with grief to the point it would paralyze him; but that never happened.  He grieved for his mom, he cried, all the while walking in a peace that he could not explain, but he never "cracked up."

The word "and" connects the two passages together.  So, when we do verse 6, verse 7 is inevitable. My professor explained that having the peace of God during a tumultuous time in your life is a spiritual law that cannot be broken.  While you're thanking God, not worrying or being anxious, the promise in verse 7 is yours! It can't explained. It can't be understood by the human mind, and it doesn't make any sense.  In other words, like Apostle Paul said, it "surpasses all comprehension."

I can attest to that peace.   That evening I came home was the first time I was able to sleep through the night while he was in the hospital.  I wasn't stressed.  I wasn't anxious. My mind was at peace. I placed Marvin in God's hands and left him there.

I had been praying for my husband and thanking God for everything He had done for him prior to that point.  I didn't understand why he was battling so hard in his body again, but I didn't let that stop me from giving God the honor and the praise.  Actually, during the last few weeks of his life, I worshiped, praised and thanked God in my prayer time, more than I asked for healing.

Currently, I am walking in a tsunami of peace.  Am I still crying?  Yep.  Am I still grieving? Yep.  Do I miss my husband?  Yep, yep, yep.  However, a promise is a promise.  We can do all of those things and still not "crack up" because God is a promise keeper.  His peace is guarding my heart and my mind. 

Some days I wake up and think this all really sucks.  I believe I have felt just about every emotion connected to losing someone you love.  However, the peace of God is a law and every day I walk in a great measure of it.

I will continue to be anxious for nothing, and give Him praise because I always want to be in a position to receive the promise of the peace of God.  It's a law that cannot be broken.