Release and Rest

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Yesterday we talked about how Paul learned to experience consistent peace because he knew how to rejoice and relax in the Lord. Today, we’re going to look at two more skills Paul acquired in order for him to find peace: releasing and resting.

Let’s first look at releasing. Once we realize that God is always with us, we must then learn to release whatever is robbing us of our peace. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In other words, don’t worry about anything and pray about everything.

Consider these three basic questions:

1. Do you believe God loves you and cares about your problems?

2. Do you believe God is powerful enough to handle all of your problems? 

3. Do you believe God wants to grow you through your problems?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, make the decision today to turn your problems over to the Lord. He can handle them. You can’t. He never said you could, but He always said He would.

Now, once you’ve learned to release the thing that is robbing you of your peace, you can finally learn to rest in Christ. After Paul tells us to stop worrying and start praying, he says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). This peace Paul is talking about passes all understanding because it is a peace that only the Lord can give. It is the type of peace that will have other people asking, “How do you have such peace in the middle of what you’re going through?”

You don’t have to die to rest in peace. You can rest in peace even when life seems like it’s falling apart. No matter what comes your way, no matter how strong the pressure, how big the problem, or how difficult the people, you can rejoice, relax, release, and then you can rest in God-given peace.

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing Paul to teach us how to find peace in you not just through his word, but by his example. Help me to release whatever is robbing me of my peace so that I can be filled with your peace. And ultimately help me to rest in you. Amen.