Peace With Super Powers

By Karen Friday

“I’m praying for you to have peace which surpasses all understanding.”

My heart meant well. I have talked and prayed about this kind of peace umpteen times for friends and loved ones.

But it had become my go-to thing to say. What a good pastor’s wife should say. For me, it had turned trite. Yet, I was about to discover it goes much deeper and is more substantial than I could have dreamed.

This time, I was saying it to Cory. My friend who was facing surgery the next day.

I’m typing these words on my phone as I sit in the hospital’s surgical waiting room. My husband, who is Cory’s pastor, is here along with her husband and other family members. We are waiting.

I have read about this peace in the Bible. Honestly, I’ve never totally got it. I just knew that if it surpasses all understanding, it must be good. The best peace available.

Last night I sent Cory a text, “You still up? You okay? Sure you are a little anxious. I’ve been praying for you. I will call you now to pray if you would like me to. The Lord will be watching over you in the morning.”

Cory’s initial reply stated that she was okay. Then, “I’m just afraid I guess. My mind is thinking of all the stuff that can go wrong!”

I was on it—texting away—my thing to say, “The peace that surpasses understanding is supernatural. Our peace is only human or natural. His peace is beyond us and our minds. That’s the peace I am praying for you.”

Cory replied, “Thank you and you can call.”

My friend needed peace. Not just any peace, comforting peace and words she could hang on to with all her might. We talked and prayed to a glorious Lord who hears and cares.

As soon as the call ended, I picked up my Bible to find Philippians 4:7. My mind thinking, “there’s something to this.” I read verse 7 and the verse before it:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God” (verse 6).

There in black and white on the pages of God’s Word, we find the preliminary cause for unrest or no peace. “Do not be anxious.” Then we are admonished to pray with thanksgiving to God.

Verse 7 brings us to the desired outcome, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Here’s the wow factor. Feast your eyes on these synonyms of surpass by Google: excel, exceed, transcend; outdo, outshine, outstrip, outclass, overshadow, eclipse; improve on, top, trump, cap, beat, better, outperform.

Folks, there you have it. God’s peace is better and beats anything I can muster up in my own power. It trumps anything the world can give us. God’s peace outshines it all.

And when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any better. It does.

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed. But my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10 ESV).

What a promise! God’s love will not depart from us and His covenant of peace will not be removed. A guaranteed pledge His peace can never be eliminated from our lives. A peace exceeding what the world has to offer. I’m here to tell you God doesn’t break promises or pledges. He doesn’t.

God is supernatural and so is His peace. It transcends all natural forms. It outdoes. It overshadows. It outperforms. Every single time.

It’s a covenant between us and God. And it’s at our disposal by:

• Taking anxious thoughts to Him.
• Making requests known to Him.
• Praying with thanksgiving to Him.
• Expecting peace from Him.
• Knowing the best peace comes from Him.

We go to God because peace comes from God.

“In Christ Jesus.” Christ made peace between us and God on the cross and He is still in the peacemaking business.

Cory’s surgery went well and she is on the road to recovery.

I pray for Cory, me, and you that we find the road to peace when we have troubled hearts. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27 ESV).

It’s peace with super powers!

© 2015 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved