Pondering Peace

I had a thought today. Yes, just one.

Philippians 4:7 came to mind. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I wondered, should I really be surprised that God allows bad things to happen to good people? (of course we are not good people we are either sinners or forgiven)

Do we see God's peace when life is peaceful? Isn't it the turmoil that reveals His peace because it doesn't make sense to be peaceful?

I think that God wants us to know Him. Why? Because He said so. He reveals Himself in nature (Romans 1:20), He reveals His secret wisdom (I Corinthians 6-10). The list could continue, but I'm trying to make a point about peace before we head over to a friends house for pizza. I know, where are my priorities?

God wrote this book so that we would not be in the dark anymore. He wants us to know Him. So, why does God allow bad things to happen? Well, first, bad things will happen. We live in a world where nothing has been untouched by the curse of sin. Really, only bad things can happen here. But not when God is with us!

So, when good things happen, from an unborn baby's heart healing, to little details of my day working out to be "perfect timing", this is God at work. Because life in a world of sin is really just pain and struggle. But God wants to use the struggle that will enter our lives and use that for an amazing thing.

To show the lost that God's peace will transcend all understanding. And in my turmoil, in a marriage filled with hurt and hopelessness, in the uncertainty of an unborn baby's fate the peace that passes understanding will point us all to God.

Without our storms, we would not know God's peace. Without the crashing waves, Peter would not have known the power, through Christ, to walk on water. Don't get me wrong, my flesh will not ask for troubles. I will cry and my heart will break over the pain in this life. I will cast my cares upon Him and I will pray for miracles and deliverance and health. But I will thank Him for everything that brings me closer to Him.