Heralds Digest

"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) Anxiety is an expressed lack of understanding regarding circumstances beyond our immediate control effort. Conversely, it is an exhibited misunderstanding of the perfect knowledge of God and His unwavering full control. While our struggles with out-of-control circumstances are necessary evils, freedom from anxiety is possible with the peace of God. Unlike this kind of peace, the peace of man is limited to the effective management of human resources for improved standard of living. But with divine peace, we can rest in the arms of the Omniscience God even when our understanding fails.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 NKJV) The reality of life is the predominance of adversity and anxiety in human affairs, which queries the existence of God. Invariably, no one should be admonished to rejoice in adversity or anxiety. And neither would Apostle Paul do. Rather, he said to the Philippians "Rejoice in the Lord always". It implies that during adversity, we are admonished to exhibit the character of God that abides within us; while the comfort of the Lord is expected to always rule over our anxieties. Therefore, all times can be the season of joy, if the presence of God overrides our reason for rejoicing.