I have a friend
whose husband is back in the hospital a state away. She and her family are spending Christmas and
New Years in another city as they pray and believe that their loved one will
gain health. I have a precious brother-in-law who just lost his dad to cancer.
A marvelous saint in our local church was killed in a car accident just 2 weeks
ago. I know others who continue to struggle with marital and divorce
issues. A friend in our small group is a
desperate for a job. Another is
concerned over the choices her children are making. Last night, our dog blew
out his hind leg, the "good one," and we are faced with making a difficult
choice.
This is labeled the
"happiest time of the year,"
but it often doesn't feel that way.
Just this morning I heard the news anchors identify how many days until
Santa comes. As if a new sweater, a cool new bike, the latest electronic, or
whatever item was placed on the wish list is really going to change the course
of one's life. It made my heart
sad. I don't need a Santa Claus; I need
a Savior. We all do.
Philippians 4:4-7
reads, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your
graciousness be known to everyone. The
Lord is near. Don't worry about anything,
but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus." It's a passage we use to remind ourselves and others to trust God
when circumstances are hard. For those
of us who have lived a life of faith for more than a season, we read it at
times with a sigh of resignation followed by a determination to put on our
happy, trusting-God-in-all-circumstances face. I don't think that's what Paul
was referring to. Verse 4 says to rejoice in
the Lord not be forced happy in spite of an unwanted circumstance. Paul encourages us to get our eyes off of
what is hard, and focus on who Jesus is.
It's a chance to gain perspective and strength and hope.
Paul says the Lord
is near. When I read that phrase I think
of someone close by, a friend holding my hand through the dark days. God does
that. And when you look at cross references
that use the same Greek word used in that phrase, those verses all deal with
Jesus' return to earth. Paul believed
that Christ's second coming was imminent.
He believed it was going to happen in his life time! He felt he could put up with whatever was
hard for a time because life in it's most glorious form was just around the
corner. I admit I don't live like
that. I don't tend to believe that Jesus
is returning in my lifetime. I know He could, I just don't think it will happen
yet. Unfortunately for me, that means I don't have that anticipation, that undeniable
hope, that abundant life is literally just around the corner. For me, it's a further off, someday
occurrence. I need to alter my point of
view. I need to sit more at the feet of Jesus and learn more deeply the lessons
of rejoicing in Him because I know He is near.
Paul also says to
not worry, but instead take the active step of praying and petitioning the God
who created all things, who is Sovereign and Lord of all. I know at times I need to be reminded that
God really isn't Santa Claus. I don't make a list and then try to be good so
that God will fulfill my wishes. I bring
my needs and wants and hopes to God because He is the giver of good gifts. I pour out my heart to Him because He loves
me with an unfathomable love. I present
my needs to Him because His Word tells me He is my provider, and that He cares
for me. Paul gives us a boundary for our petitioning. We are to come with a
heart of thanksgiving. I know that when
I am telling God about what is hard, and how I long for Him to show up in my
life or the lives of those I love, I am more able to hear and accept the answer
He gives when my heart has been made aware of all that He has already done for
me. Life has taught me that even when
I'm broken and aching, pouring out my longing to Jesus, begging Him to
intervene, if He gives me exactly what I ask for, there will still be another
circumstance down the road that will have me in the same posture and
position. Receiving the answers I
imagine will fix my hard circumstances doesn't give me abundant life or peace.
Verse 7 reminds me that peace comes because I am in Christ. When I think about
being "in" something, I visualize being engulfed, surrounded,
enveloped by whatever I am in. When I'm "in"
a snow storm, the snow is all around me and it is all that I see. I think being "in Christ" should
have that same type of experience.
I'm reminded as I
look at this passage and filter through my thoughts that prayer isn't about
getting what I want. Prayer is about
getting closer to the One who loves me and gave His life to save me. I don't need a Santa Claus god; I need a
Savior. And He has come, Immanuel, God
with us, even on days that are hard.
