Day 16

Peace Beyond Understanding

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

For those whose teen years appear a long way off in the rearview mirror of your life, would you repeat your teen years if given the opportunity? Did you have to think about it? I didn't. My answer would be NO! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my teen years, at least most of the time, but I don't want to experience those days again. Let's face it: being a teenager at any time in human history is not for the faint of heart.

In December 2021, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the United States Surgeon General, sounded the alarm on a national emergency among our young people. His report identified that anxiety and depression appear at alarming levels among our students. He spotlighted this crisis by pointing out the increase in emergency room visits by teens and suicide levels rising across the nation. Many experts blame social media, video games, cell phones, and the pandemic.

However, the struggles speak to a deep loneliness in the lives of many teens, alone and isolated.

The Apostle Paul offers a path of hope during the nights of the soul. He wrote: "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 minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

The students around us need our prayers and examples of how to find peace--the peace of God. In our chaotic world, we must learn how moment-by-moment prayer seasoned with thanksgiving unleashes the peace from above within our hearts and souls.

Applications: 1) Pray for the students in our church and community that the peace of God permeates their hearts and souls. 2) When anxiety greets you, respond with prayer and surrender to the lover of your soul--Jesus, our Lord.

Written By: Dr. David Lowrie