Philippians 4:6-7 

New International Version (NIV)

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.

For Meditation

He missed his flight by about twelve hours. It was one of those flights we call, “wicked” because of their deceptive hours. His departure date was 13 March for departure at 2am. However, his reporting time was boldly handwritten, 11pm. So, Richard reported to the gate, on time at 11 pm, Tuesday 13 March; or so he thought.

To his surprise and horror, the check-in counter was empty. What he failed to reckon was that the reporting time was 11pm, Monday 12 March, for the 2 am flight to Lagos on Tuesday the 13th. Maybe you’re confused like many others who have missed their flights this way. Disappointed, my friend changed the last dollar bills he had and took a taxi home.

My phone rang desperately around 7am. He needed 60.000 cfa ($115) as penalty to rebook his flight for that day. He however wanted to check his balance at his bank first. After waiting for six hours from one officer to the other, he was told that his account was redundant, and it would take more than a day to restore it.

I sent the money to him, with a driver to the airline’s office, and got the flight rescheduled for the same wicked hours. Relieved and contented on the drive back to his house, he went into his wallet and, voila! 77.000 cfa ($145) were neatly stashed there. How the money he received for the dollars he changed at the airport the previous night registered only 17.000 cfa in his mind, only God knows. But, that’s how some days are. My good friend didn’t have to borrow money after all.

The Holy Spirit counsels us against anxiety in Philippians chapter four. “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” (Phil. 4:6-7).

When we allow a disappointment to unsettle us, we lose ourselves. Our sense of coordination disappears, and we can’t think right. The surprise of the situation destabilizes our plans and sends us into a frenzy. We become angry and desperate. We fret and make poor decisions. Our peace is gone, and anxiety rules in its place.

But God doesn’t want it that way for His children. He wants us to calm down at such times and whisper a prayer to Him with thankful hearts for His providence. With His peace in Christ Jesus ruling our hearts and minds, the fog will clear, and we’ll see clearly and think right for the right decisions. Like my friend, we may not have to do anything after all.

So, may you experience God’s calming presence and peace in your stormy moments, in Christ Jesus, Amen.

Shalom