THE COMFORT OF REALITY
By Mike Cunningham
November 9, 2014

Instead of continuing from where I ended last Sunday’s sermon, I decided to share with you a completely revised version of a sermon I first preached back in 1988. Although I have preached it a couple of times since then, I realize that the vast majority of the folks who visit my blog are unaware of it. The sermon begins with me saying:

A boy poking Spike the dog with a ten-foot long pole is bound to evoke a reaction. Spike might run away, bark, growl, or if provoked enough, attack the pole and bite it. Although he is aware of the kid’s presence, his whole attention is focused on the thing that is tormenting him, the pole. All too often this is how we also respond whenever another person or circumstance is distressing us. What we should do is look beyond our burdens and accept “the comfort of reality.” Allow me to explain.

The first two chapters of the Book of Job give an account of a series of horrendous events that were destined to occur in the life of a godly man named Job. We are privy to a scene that took place in Heaven. It involved the Lord God Almighty and some of His holy angles as well as Satan. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty and absolute control over His entire creation, Satan asked God for permission to afflict Job severely. God granted his request with a singular restriction; Job’s life must be spared (Job 2:6). Soon afterward on two separate occasions, Job’s life was disrupted immensely. Satan let loose with what might seem to us like a series of devastating projectiles bursting out of the barrel of an AK 47 rapid-fire assault-rifle. Each of them tore into this godly man’s heart. Job immediately experienced intense pain, sorrow, grief, humiliation and loneliness.

A bolt of lightning had come gushing out of the blue, and incinerated every one of his 7,000 thousand sheep, and all but one of the shepherds who were tending them. Then rustlers swarmed down from the hills and murdered every one of Job’s hired hands except one of them before galloping away with all 3,000 of his camels. Next, what must have seemed to Job as though it gushed right out of the bowels of Hell; a furious tornado came twisting out of the wilderness and struck the four corners of his oldest son’s home causing it to come crashing down and crushing all seven of his beloved children to death. Finally, the man himself was severely afflicted with a horrible disease (Job 1:13-19; 2:7). And, you and I know that none of these awful tragedies could have occurred unless our heavenly Father allowed them to.

Most folks would find it extremely difficult to even think straight if they had just experienced such incredible losses. Job, however, by the Grace of God, was able to think with exceptional clarity. He looked beyond his painful circumstances, beyond the atmospheric disturbances and those evil men and Satan, and he saw reality. He was able to say “…The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21b).

Notice that he didn’t say the Lord gave and evil men and abnormal weather conditions and Satan have taken away. Instead he acknowledged God’s hand in everything that was happening to him when he said: “What, shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil,” (Job 2:10). Especially noteworthy is the fact that the Lord did not send these afflictions upon Job as punishment for any sin.

Few have been called upon by God to suffer as Job did, and yet, no human being will escape trials, tribulation and suffering (Job 5:7, 14:1). Whenever we do, we must look beyond the ordeal, beyond our fears, beyond our pain and suffering and take comfort in the knowledge that whatever we may be experiencing, however awful it truly is, was in eternity past, planned and ordained by God to occur in our present. (Ephesians 1:11; Daniel 4:35) Painful experiences that were planned by a heavenly Father who loves each of His adopted children so much that He often allows or causes them to endure great difficulty, and always for His glory and their own ultimate good. (Romans 8:28-29).

Before the foundation of the world our Creator planned to put on flesh and dwell on Earth in the person of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus was ordained and predestined to suffer and die and agonizing death on a Roman cross to pay the price for the sins of His people and to enable them to live a Godly life today, (John 3:16) and enjoy never ending happiness forever (Psalm 73:24 In other words, back in eternity past, God planned and ordained the greatest evil that could ever occur in the course of human history which would enable Him to bestow the greatest blessing on those humans willing to freely accept the gift of forgiveness of their sins through the sheading of the precious Blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. A friend of mine is fond of reminding me that God often allows that which He hates in order to accomplish that which He loves.

In times of great difficulty we should pray and ask God to strengthen us, by causing us to remember that we are in His hands, and that nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever be able to separate us from the love He has for us in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39). We should plead with Him and ask Him to help us to remember His faithfulness in keeping His promise to never to lay a burden on any of His Son’s followers which will be more than they can handle, (1 Corinthians 10:13); and also that each of those burdens are always tempered with mercy.

It’s especially comforting if we bring to our remembrance past trials we have endured and meditate on God’s faithfulness in delivering us from each and every one of them. You and I ought to focus on how we have been drawn closer to Him and become more Christ-like as a result of them. Although our present affliction may seem to be lasting forever we can comfort and encourage ourselves and fellow Christian’s also by remembering that our entire life time in this world is a mere split second of eternity (Psalm 39:5).

Sometimes we tend to forget why an all-kind loving Father would allow us to go through such a painful ordeal? Surely, if He is God Almighty, and He really cared for us, He could “pull strings” so to speak, and spare us an awful lot of heartache. Couldn’t He make things happen differently? With the help of Satan, in times such as these, you and I will be tempted to become unfocused and actually believe that He who is the personification of love itself can alter His perfect plan which He conceived in eternity past. Such an erroneous unbiblical assumption will surely intensify the weight of our burdens.

Some people such as the psalmist may wonder if He really knows what He is doing.” He who is Infinite in wisdom replies to the man and said: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). “But none of what I’m going through makes any sense.” He reminds us that His ways are not our ways. His ways are perfect, loving, beyond our understanding, and infinitely higher than our ways (II Samuel 22:31: Psalm 25:10; Romans 11:33). We must humble ourselves under His mighty hand, being mindful of the fact that He will deliver us at the exact moment that His objective has been achieved and not a second before or after. (1Peter 5:6)

We may wonder why we must suffer so much. Why do some really bad things happen to God’s children, members of His own family? This is a timeless question that He has not chosen to answer fully this side of eternity. We do, however, know that we live in the eight day of creation, and that He is not finished with us yet. He is busy keeping His promise to transform you and me and every other Christian into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Every Christian will manifest an ever increasing measure of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and possess self-control in his or her daily walk (Galatians 5:22). Jerry Bridges in his outstanding book, Trusting God reminds us that: “The first four traits he [Paul] mentions—love, joy, peace, and patience—can only be developed in the womb of adversity.” We also mustn’t forget that because of our resemblance to Christ, you and I will at times be persecuted, insulted and slandered, and perhaps even murdered, (Matthew 5:11; 1 Peter 4:12-16). This is also reality.

One of the means He has planned and ordained to effect a godly transformation in us is through trials, tribulation and suffering (Romans 5:3; 8:18; James 5:11). The old puritan Thomas Watson hit the nail on the head in his book, A DIVINE CORDIAL, later re-titled ALL THINGS FOR GOOD, saying, “A sickbed often teaches more than a sermon.” I’m sure I’m not the only one this morning who can attest to the truthfulness of that observation.

We shouldn’t imagine we are alone in this transforming process (1 Peter 1:6, 7; 5:9). Circumstances may vary, but the end result will be the same. And when our trial is over, we will be able to echo the sentiments of those who have preceded us and say, “It is good that I have been afflicted” (Psalm 119:71). Why would King David say that? Listen to his answer: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word,” (Psalm 119:67).

The time will come when you and I and every other Christian will sing eternal praises to God for the change our afflictions have brought about in us. They will also remind us that we are aliens on this earth (1 Peter 2:11), and that each of us must change (Romans 12:2) to become fit, not only to enter into God’s Heaven, but also to enjoy Heavens best.

We must humble ourselves under His Mighty hand; being ever mindful of the fact that He will deliver us when He has accomplished everything He has planned through our painful ordeal (1 Peter 5:6).

God knows exactly what He is doing (Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 3:19; Romans 11:33). Nothing will prevent Him from accomplishing everything He has planned on accomplishing from before He spoke His world into existence (Ephesians 1:4-5; 11-14). He will do this in His own way and according to His timetable. You and I and every one of our fellow Christians will glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:36) and enjoy Him forever (Psalm 73:25-26).

A smoke alarm sounding loudly in the middle of the night is designed to get our attention, to motivate us to take action, perhaps flee for our life. We can ignore its warning or silence it with a quick blow from a hammer. The choice is ours. To choose the latter is to effectively deny reality, and we will most certainly experience the consequences of our foolish decision.

Refusing to believe and trust God, who is the absolute ruler of His universe and all its inhabitants (Psalm 103:19), is also a denial of reality. We must be prepared to receive lots of encouragement from the one Jesus called “the father of lies” (John 8:34) to do just that. Satan will cleverly disguise the “hooks” of fear, worry, anxiety and depression in hopes that we will be greatly enticed to eagerly devour the bait (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). He wants you and me to view our situation as being hopeless and convince us that we are helpless. In other words, Satan wants to drive us to despair, to give up. Stop for a moment and think of some of the greatest burdens you have ever borne. Weren’t most of them nothing more than figments of your imagination?

God is our Creator (Genesis 1:1), and you and I and all human beings are the apex of His creation (Genesis 1:26-27). He has furnished us with the Bible, a divinely inspired book that I refer to as being an “instruction manual” (Romans 15: 4 and 2 Timothy 3: 16-17).” If we learn from it, and apply it in our daily lives, we will be able to please Him by living in a manner He intended humans to live; a manner that is for their own good and His glory. If we would make the time to really study the Bible often and then believe it; we will receive tremendous comfort, encouragement and hope (Romans 15:4).

Among other wonderful things, it will soon become apparent that Christ wants us to enjoy peace in the midst of our divinely ordained ordeal. Listen to these beautiful soft-spoken words He first spoke to His beloved disciples and now to each of us individually. “These things I have spoken unto you that in Me you might have peace; in the world you SHALL have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33, KJV).

Before you go to bed tonight please take the time and turn to the end of the Book of Job, when his trial is over. Look at the tremendous blessings the Lord God showered down upon him (Job 42:12-16). The pessimist among us is apt to say, “Yeah, but he finally died, didn’t he.” Be reminded that, for Christ’s followers and only for His followers, “death is not a period but rather a comma in the story of life” (John 11:25-26; 5:24-25; 10:28).

Think also of the tremendous joy Job experienced when he was reunited in paradise with all those loved ones who preceded him. It’s impossible to experience the unimaginable happiness of being reunited with someone we lost without first having suffered the pain of separation. Some folks might ask, how about the man’s precious children who were taken from him in their youth (Job 1:18-19). Suppose they’re among the lost and aren’t in Heaven. The Book of Job doesn’t answer that question, nor does the Bible. However, we do know that God never allows or causes anything to occur in the course of human history which will even minutely diminish His own glory or the eternal happiness of all those who freely accept forgiveness of their sins through the precious blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.

We should train ourselves to habitually resist the demonic temptation to be like Spike the dog that I spoke about previously. We are human beings created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Through the witness of Job He has enabled us to look beyond our troubles so that we can see reality. You and I must humble ourselves. In other words we should lower our opinion of ourselves under the mighty hand of God, with the absolute certainty that in due time He will exalt us (1 Peter 5:6). And remember, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5).

Please make the time to meditate on our Heavenly Father who loves us with a love which is so great that we can’t even begin to comprehend the magnitude of it (Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 3:1; 4:9, 16). This is reality! And don’t ever forget that He wants us to cast all our anxiety on Him with the absolute assurance that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

In closing I suggest we store up in our hearts the wonderful Biblical truths in this brief message and guard them like the treasured possessions they actually are. If we do, you and I will be able to rejoice in the Lord always and receive the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4: 4-7). This is guaranteed to be our experience because now we will have accepted THE COMFORT OF REALITY.

Lord willing, next week….

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FOOTNOTES

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COR FOOT NOTES

Job 2:6 (NIV)
6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

Job 1:13-19 (NIV)
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Job 2:7 (NIV)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 1:21 (NIV)
21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

Job 5:7 (NIV)
7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

Job 14:1 (NIV)
1 “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.

Ephesians 1:11 (NIV)
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Daniel 4:35 (NIV)
35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

Romans 8:28-29 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

John 3:16 (NIV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 73:24 (NIV)
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Psalm 39:5 (NIV)
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. Selah

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)
31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)
31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Romans 11:33 (NIV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Romans 8:29 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Matthew 5:11 (NIV)
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV)
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Romans 5:3 (NIV)
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 8:18 (NIV)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

James 5:11 (NIV)
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 5:9 (NIV)
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Psalm 119:71 (NIV)
71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Psalm 119:67 (NIV)
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.

1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 104:24 (NIV)
24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Proverbs 3:19-20 (NIV)
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

Romans 11:33 (NIV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–

Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV)
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Romans 11:36 (NIV)
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 103:19 (NIV)
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

John 8:44 (NIV)
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Matthew 24:24 (NIV)
24 For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible.

Mark 13:22 (NIV)
22 For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect–if that were possible.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Romans 15:3-4 (NIV)
3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 15:4 (NIV)
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Job 42:12-16 (NIV)
12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.
13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch.
15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

John 11:25-26 (NIV)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 5:24-26 (NIV)
24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

John 10:28 (NIV)
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Job 1:18-19 (NIV)
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Psalm 126:5 (NIV)
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

John 3:16 (NIV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 4:9 (NIV)
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1 John 4:16 (NIV)
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.