A Peace

John Povey October 17, 2026 1 2

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Philippians 4: 4-9 (NIV-UK)

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 every situation, 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.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It is said that Britain is a nation of worriers. People get stressed over “minor emergencies”, like misplacing glasses, running out of phone battery, losing keys, or being stuck in traffic.

All that worry has a negative impact on our health: dizziness, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, headaches, sweating.

Are you worried yet? Well, take some comfort from research which found that 85% of what we worry about never happens. That still leaves 15% to worry about! So what can we do about worry?

Paul, writing to the Philippians, takes the matter head on and deals with it in a very practical way. He uncovers for us the promise of peace beyond human understanding.  Every time we begin to worry, God is telling us that it’s time to pray. So instead of worrying, bring every concern to God.

Prayer is a persistent, grateful, honest dialogue with God about our needs, our fears, and our desires. And Paul deliberately includes thanksgiving. Gratitude is a powerful weapon against anxiety. Give thanks, not for the problem itself, but for the God you are inviting into your specific problem. Offering thanks reminds us of God’s past faithfulness and gives us confidence for the future.

The promise is that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds.

This isn’t the peace that comes from changed circumstances. It’s a divinely given peace, inexplicable, a calm in the midst of the storm. You will know that God has heard your prayer, not necessarily because the problem is solved, but because of the peace that God gives you.

The God of peace himself is present to walk with you in conflict and disappointment, in anxiety and fear, offering comfort and courage.

Prayer:

Lord, I give You my worries right now. Thank you for hearing me, as you have heard me so often in the past. Thank you for your calm in the midst of the storm. Guard my heart with Your perfect peace. May you, the God of peace, be continually with me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.