Daily Devotion – December 10, 2021
This devotion may be found in the Luther Advent Devotional here.
Philippians 4:4–7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry 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.
“Do not worry about anything!†Does Paul have any idea what he is talking about? Doesn’t he know we are in a global pandemic; we are facing climate change, inequality, and a slew of other more personal crises daily? There are countless things to worry about—all the time!
And yet, all that worrying doesn’t change anything!
And then Paul follows up this nearly impossible advice by telling us that our prayers of thanksgiving can lead to a peace that surpasses all understanding. But so often we seem unable to even comprehend the peace of God. We cannot comprehend how this will all play out. It is doubtful that many of us can read Paul’s encouragement and really stop worrying for the rest of our lives. But we can share these burdens with Jesus and trust in God instead of worrying alone.
Lord God, we understand you are the creator of the universe. You have infinite love and compassion for your creation. We pray for your peace in this tumultuous time. Amen.
