Be At Peace
“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.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious. Let your requests be known to God. These sound like easy things to do, don’t they? They are not complicated in concept, but they are much harder to put into practice. I once knew a man who said he never worried and had an incredibly low-stress level. He was this way because, he said, anything that he could do to influence or make things happen, he did. And if he could not do anything or influence an outcome, then worrying was pointless. Things turned out either good or bad, but there was nothing he could do. He placed his energy into the things he could control.
I always thought that sounded great in theory, but it did not necessarily work for me in practice. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we hear that we should give those things that make us anxious to God in prayer. Then His peace will guard our hearts and minds.
There is a prayer that I learned when I was part of the Diocese of Fort Worth, and we were experiencing transition and uncertain times. It is attributed to St. Francis de Sales. The provisional bishop closed our time together at a diocesan gathering with this prayer. I hope that when you are facing anxious or uncertain times you might find this prayer as comforting as I do.
Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life.
Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things;
And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you today and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Amen.
St. Francis de Sales
