Aggressive Peaceنموونە

Aggressive Peace

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 4:6-7, NIV).

Peace is often perceived as something passive. A serene calmness, merely enduring. It's about controlling our thoughts so we can remain composed. Or perhaps, peace is seen as a psychological technique to suppress the turmoil within our minds.

The word "guard" in this passage, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," comes from the Greek word "phrorueo," which actually implies guarding like a soldier, not just standing firm but ready to attack if necessary, taking whatever measures are needed to protect.

The government has Ministry of Defence. Despite its name emphasizing defence, we know that the military, armed with weapons and forces, is prepared to attack and fight to maintain our safety.

Several years ago, I visited a small village in West Java, Indonesia, on a mission trip. This village was unique because it was a minority in a region where other religions prevailed. The majority of people in that village were Christians.

There's an intriguing story that I still remember, a tale passed down through generations in that village. Around the late 1940s, there was a separatist group intending to establish a state based on a particular religion. This group didn't like the existence of the Christian village, and they attacked it. The villagers fled their homes and sought refuge in a church in the village (probably, it was the only church at that time).

The separatist group had surrounded the church. The villagers could only resign themselves to their fate.

Suddenly...

The group fled, leaving them alone. For some reason.

Later on, it was revealed. Those who fled claimed that when they surrounded the church, suddenly they saw a troop of soldiers with complete weaponry emerging from the church and guarding it. Eventually, they ran away in fear.

Even though there were no soldiers at all, it was God's way of protecting the villagers. He drove away the group that intended to harm them.

The above story illustrates that God's peace is not passive. It's aggressive and active, like a military force repelling the enemy. The peace of God turns our fear into tranquillity, and our enemies become fearful in turn.

The peace from Christ is not just psychological manipulation. Perhaps worldly peace or relying on our own strength can only go so far—just sustaining. There's nothing wrong with controlling our thoughts; indeed, it's necessary. But we cannot do it with our own strength.

This is where we lean on the peace of God. Surrender control of our lives to Christ, who reigns in our hearts. Express all our anxieties in prayer to God with thanksgiving. Then receive, in faith, that supernatural and powerful peace. Our minds may try to remind us of our anxieties and the chaotic external circumstances, but let us choose to surrender to God and embrace that peace. Let God's peace guard you and drive away fear, anxiety, and the fiery arrows of the evil one.