"guarding Our Hearts And Minds"

“Guarding our Hearts and Minds”

Philippians 4:4-9

Recently, I got an email from a friend living in another state.

She writes: “Everything feels uncertain.

My mind often jumps to worst-case scenarios.

I have no control over this pandemic…

…No control over who visits my parents…

…No control over whether a loved one will contract COVID-19…

…No control over the lockdown in my city…

…No control over whether another recession is on the horizon.

I’m worried.

I’m a Christian and I’m worried.

And what, if anything, can I do about it?”

Perhaps you have been dealing with some of the same thoughts and worries.

I think most of us have, to one degree or another.

(pause)

It may seem strange that the letter in which Paul writes the most about peace, joy and rejoicing is Philippians since when he wrote it--he was in prison.

He didn’t even know whether he would be set free or if he would be put to death.

But it is in the midst of this terribly difficult and uncertain situation that Paul writes about discovering the secret of peace and joy in Christ Jesus.

A few verses beyond what I just read this morning, Paul writes: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned to secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Paul has found a source of happiness that will never fail.

It consists in a ongoing relationship with the risen Christ, Who has already gone through the lowest point of the human condition.

Rooted in Christ’s life, Paul experiences a joy that nothing can take away.

Whether he lives or dies, whether others shower him with praise or contempt, all is the same to him when it is seen from the standpoint of His relationship with Jesus Christ.

And that kind of God-given peace and joy does not make natural sense.

It really is a gift from God.

You know, the Bible tells us that God isn’t indifferent about the details of our lives.

God knows us personally.

God cares about us personally and deeply and nothing is out of God’s control.

Now, humanly speaking, my joy or happiness or contentment depends on my circumstances.

I am happy when I am surrounded by friends, when my future looks bright, when I have a rewarding job.

But if my happiness depended solely on outward circumstances, it would be impossible to “Rejoice in the Lord always,” because—no matter what—in this life we all go through dark valleys and exhilarating mountaintops.

Several years ago, I organized a weekend retreat in a nice motel in the mountains.

I mentioned the retreat several times during the announcements on Sunday morning, showing pictures of the attractive setting for the retreat.

It was off-season, and we got a really good deal on the price.

A young man who had only visited our church once or twice asked me, “Can I go?”

I said, “Sure, that would be great.”

Then he asked if his wife could go.

The tone of his voice indicated to me that he thought this was all too good to be true.

I was like, “definitely, your wife can come.”

So, Pete and Jessica came to the retreat.

The first evening, as we sat in a circle talking about faith issues, Pete said that he had some real problems with what he called “the God thing.”

His grandmother was a strong Christian, but she had lived a hard life.

How could God allow such a thing to happen?

We all sat in our chairs staring at our shoes—hoping someone would come up with a good answer.

Finally, another young guy on the retreat said, “Pete, what about your grandmother? Is she a happy person Pete said that she was very happy in spite of the many difficulties she had suffered through.

Then the young man said, “Maybe that’s the answer, Pete. God didn’t give her an easy life, but He did give her a happy life.”

That was the answer Pete needed to hear.

During that weekend, he and his wife became Christians.

The next thing I knew, they were teaching a Sunday school class.

Then Pete, went off to seminary in order to become a pastor.

We all have problems; we all have difficulties, but there is a “peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” which is available to us no matter the circumstances of our lives

And the word for this kind of “peace” shows up nearly 100 times in the New Testament.

And it has its roots in the Hebrew word “Shalom,” which is used a lot in the Old Testament.