If you have been in church for any period of time, you probably heard someone quote Philippians 4:6-7 which says, “do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” People say don’t worry just pray. And we begin to think if I pray right then I will have peace and do not have to worry.
Our focus becomes how I pray rather than the God to whom we pray. One thing we need to remember is that the verse numbers are not original to the text. If you look at the sentence it does not start with do not be anxious but with the phrase The lord is at hand. The emphasis is not on how we pray. The emphasis is the truth that God is always close to us, he is always ready to hear us when we pray. Prayer simply recognizes that God is with us. His presence is what gives us the peace that passes all understand. He is the God of peace, and He is with us. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. When I trust in His presence in my life, I have peace. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33
For Further Study: Read Isaiah 26 and John 14:25-27
