A Peaceful Heart

Led by: Rev. Magdalena Marais

Scripture: Psalm 130, Philippians 4: 1 – 9 and Isaiah 26: 1-8

Peace in the Middle of Choas

There is an old story about a king who wanted to find the perfect painting of peace.  Artists from across the kingdom brought their finest work.  Some painted quiet lakes reflecting snow-capped mountains. Others painted peaceful valleys covered with flowers.  Some chose calm sunsets over rolling fields.  Every painting was beautiful and looked peaceful.  But one painting was completely different.  It showed a violent storm.  Dark clouds filled the sky.  Rain poured down.  A waterfall crashed over jagged rocks.  At first, it seemed like the least peaceful picture of them all.  But when the king looked more closely, he noticed something hidden behind the waterfall.

Tucked safely into a small opening in the rocks was a tiny bird sitting quietly on her nest.  Within the storm raging, the noise of the waterfall crashing down the little bird was completely at peace.  The king chose that painting, because true peace is not found when life is free from chaos.  True peace is found when we discover a place of safety in the middle of chaos.

I think Paul would have loved that painting.  When Paul writes these words to the church in Philippi, he is not sitting beside a peaceful lake.  He is sitting in a Roman prison.  His future is uncertain.  He does not know whether he will be released or executed.  Yet throughout this letter he keeps speaking about joy, gentleness and peace.  This letter always amazes me, how is it possible to be in the worst possible place, not even knowing if you’re going to be executed, and speak about the beauty of life?  Maybe because Paul’s speaking about the beauty of life in Christ.  Paul’s peace did not come from his circumstances.  His peace came from Christ.

That is one of the greatest lessons we can learn.  Peace is not the absence of trouble.  It is the presence of God in the middle of our trouble.  Paul wants us to realize that a peaceful mind can’t be obtained by a magic formula or a quick 5 step fix.  But an invitation to discover the peace that only God can give.

Peace Begins with One Another

It may surprise us that Paul doesn’t begin by talking about prayer.  He begins by talking about relationships.  He writes, “I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche to settle their disagreement.” We know almost nothing about these two women except one important detail.  They had faithfully served Christ.  Paul even says they had worked alongside him in sharing the Gospel.  Yet somewhere along the way, disagreement found its way into the church.  Paul never mentioned who’s right or wrong because while it’s important to us to be right it’s not Paul’s concern.  His concern is that unresolved conflict quietly steals the peace of God’s people.

Isn’t that still true today?  Sometimes the thing that steals our peace isn’t outside us but between us.  A conversation that never happened.  Words that were spoken in anger.  A misunderstanding that slowly grew into resentment.  An apology that was never offered.  Forgiveness that was never given.  Those things weigh heavily on our hearts.  They rob us of peace.  Paul reminds us that peace with God should shape the way we live with one another.  That does not mean we will always agree.  My dad always had a saying we agree to disagree.  The older I get the more I realize the wisdom of it.  The Church has never been a place where everyone thinks alike.

But it should always be a place where people love one another enough to seek reconciliation.  Because when Christ lives at the centre of a community, relationships matter.  They are worth protecting.  Sometimes making peace requires humility, listening before speaking and letting go of the need to have the last word.  That is never easy.  But Paul reminds us that standing firm in the Lord also means standing together.  Peace begins in our hearts, but it is often seen first in the way we treat one another.

Choose Joy Because the Lord Is Near

After speaking about relationships, Paul suddenly says something remarkable.

“May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!”

If we are honest, those words can sound almost impossible.  “Always?”  Really, Paul?  Even those days when we got up on the wrong side of the bed.  Ran out of coffee and have a bad hair day?  Even when life hurts, we’re grieving, when we’re worried or feels wronged by someone?  We need to look carefully at Paul’s words not “Rejoice in your circumstances.” but “Rejoice in the Lord.”

There is a big difference.  Happiness usually depends on what is happening around us.  Joy depends on what we hold on too.  Paul understood that better than most people.  He wasn’t writing these words from a comfortable home. He wasn’t enjoying freedom or good health.  He was sitting in prison.  And if we hear the word prison it’s not prison as we know it today.  This was in a time where human dignity meant nothing.  The circumstances were beyond horrible.  Yet he could still speak about joy because his circumstances had not become his source of hope.  Christ was.  That is why Christian joy is deeper than happiness.  Happiness comes and goes depending on the side of the bed you use in the morning.  Joy remains because Christ remains.

Then Paul adds another beautiful sentence.  “Show a gentle attitude toward everyone.”  Some translations use the word gentleness.  Others speak about kindness or graciousness.  It describes someone whose heart has learned to rest in God.  When we are anxious, we often become impatient.  When we are afraid, we easily become defensive.  When we are under pressure, we sometimes hurt the people closest to us.  But a peaceful heart produces a gentle spirit because we know we are not facing life alone.  Paul gives the reason for both joy and gentleness.  “The Lord is near.”  Those four words may be the most comforting words in this whole passage.  The Lord is near.  Not only when we feel strong.  The Lord is near.  That is why we can rejoice.  Not because everything is alright.  But because the One who holds everything is with us.

Fill Your Mind with What Gives Life

Paul’s final encouragement is both practical and deeply encouraging.  He writes,

“Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable.”  Have you ever noticed how easily our minds can become filled with the wrong things?  Our thoughts have a remarkable influence on our hearts.  What we continually think about eventually shapes the way we see the world.  Paul understands that.  That is why he doesn’t simply tell us to stop worrying.  He invites us to fill our minds with something better.  With truth instead of fear.  With hope instead of despair.  With grace instead of resentment.  With everything that reflects the character of God.  This is not about pretending that problems do not exist.  Paul certainly wasn’t pretending that prison was pleasant.  Rather, he was choosing not to allow his circumstances to become louder than God’s promises.  Perhaps that is one of the greatest challenges for us today.  We are surrounded by voices competing for our attention.  The news often reminds us what is wrong with the world.  Social media tells us what we should fear or what we are missing.  Our own worries whisper that tomorrow may be too difficult.

Yet above all those voices, God continues to speak.  Through His Word, His promises, His Spirit.  Every day we choose which voice will shape our hearts.  Faith is never only something we believe.  It is something we live.  Little by little.  Day by day.  One act of forgiveness.  One prayer.  One kind word.  One step of obedience.

As we walk with Christ, His peace slowly begins to shape the way we live.

The God of Peace Will Be With You

Paul end by saying, “ And the God who gives us peace will be with you.”  That brings us back to the painting we spoke about at the beginning.  The king chose the painting with the little bird hidden safely behind the waterfall.  The storm was still raging.  The rain had not stopped.  The waterfall was still crashing over the rocks.

Yet the bird rested safely in its nest.  That is what God’s peace looks like.  Paul knew that.  The Philippian church needed to hear that.  And perhaps we need to hear it today as well.  There will always be things that could steal our peace.  Things that we do, things others do to us and things that’s happening around us.  But there will never be a moment when Christ stops walking with His people.  The peace we long for is not found when every problem is solved.  It is found in the One who has promised, “I am with you.”  So, as we leave today, we should ask ourselves what shapes our hearts?  Because that’s the key to a peaceful heart.  Will I allow fear to shape my heart?  Or will I remember that the Lord is near?  Will I carry my worries by myself?  Or will I bring them to the One who invites me to pray?  Will I dwell on fear?  Or will I fill it with the promises of God?  When our hearts learn to pray with thanksgiving, when our minds are shaped by His truth, we discover something wonderful.  A peace that remains and guide all our actions.  And that peace is possible because the God of peace is with us.  Amen.