The Lord is Near
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV translation)
I can’t remember specifically, but I believe these verses were given to me while on a church retreat for middle school students back in the early 1990s (I’m dating myself!). How does the wisdom and providence of God work exactly? Were these verses given to me because God knew specifically that I would come back to them time and time again over the years? Or did I come back to them time and time again over the years because they were a needed and helpful vehicle to transport me to the heart of God? Just a few short years later while doing a Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission, the next set of verses were given to me added to what I now consider my life verses.
My family is currently living in Hannover, Germany so we were hearing about, and preparing for, the coronavirus to hit Europe in late January and early February—a bit sooner than in the Americas and Caribbean. And of course, I recall the severe anxiety and fear that flooded my heart and mind. It was anxiety about the unknown—how it would affect our kids, how it would affect their schooling, how it would affect society etc.
But there was also immense fear for our family in the United States. We have parents who are now well into their prime (my niece declared my father-in-law could now be considered old since he just turned 86!), and I worried for their health and safety during this time. One evening, while preparing our typical Sunday night homemade pizza, I just broke down crying spontaneously. I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotion for the unknown and the burden of it all.
But then I remembered my life verses and I have prayed them for myself, over my children as they go to sleep at night, and gave them to my small congregation of English-speaking expatriates here in Hannover, Germany.
We need the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Mentally we can be overwhelmed with statistics and projections. We can be overwhelmed with chaotic leadership and differing opinions on what comes next. We can be overwhelmed with unemployment figures and strategies for providing for those most in need.
Our hearts bear the weight and pain of those who have died because of COVID-19. We even bear the weight and pain of those who have died during this time from things other than the virus, yet we are unable to mourn and comfort those who have lost loved ones. We need the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
One of the corresponding verses to this Philippians passage is Isaiah 26:3-4 which says, “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
People of God, the Lord is near during this time of Great Pause! I encourage you to put your trust in God for there you will stand secure on the everlasting rock, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV translation)
I can’t remember specifically, but I believe these verses were given to me while on a church retreat for middle school students back in the early 1990s (I’m dating myself!). How does the wisdom and providence of God work exactly? Were these verses given to me because God knew specifically that I would come back to them time and time again over the years? Or did I come back to them time and time again over the years because they were a needed and helpful vehicle to transport me to the heart of God? Just a few short years later while doing a Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission, the next set of verses were given to me added to what I now consider my life verses.
My family is currently living in Hannover, Germany so we were hearing about, and preparing for, the coronavirus to hit Europe in late January and early February—a bit sooner than in the Americas and Caribbean. And of course, I recall the severe anxiety and fear that flooded my heart and mind. It was anxiety about the unknown—how it would affect our kids, how it would affect their schooling, how it would affect society etc.
But there was also immense fear for our family in the United States. We have parents who are now well into their prime (my niece declared my father-in-law could now be considered old since he just turned 86!), and I worried for their health and safety during this time. One evening, while preparing our typical Sunday night homemade pizza, I just broke down crying spontaneously. I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotion for the unknown and the burden of it all.
But then I remembered my life verses and I have prayed them for myself, over my children as they go to sleep at night, and gave them to my small congregation of English-speaking expatriates here in Hannover, Germany.
We need the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Mentally we can be overwhelmed with statistics and projections. We can be overwhelmed with chaotic leadership and differing opinions on what comes next. We can be overwhelmed with unemployment figures and strategies for providing for those most in need.
Our hearts bear the weight and pain of those who have died because of COVID-19. We even bear the weight and pain of those who have died during this time from things other than the virus, yet we are unable to mourn and comfort those who have lost loved ones. We need the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
One of the corresponding verses to this Philippians passage is Isaiah 26:3-4 which says, “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
People of God, the Lord is near during this time of Great Pause! I encourage you to put your trust in God for there you will stand secure on the everlasting rock, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
—Rev. Dr. Gretchen Schoon Tanis
Reformed Church in America