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The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 6

Would You Like God’s Peace to Keep Your Hearts and Minds?

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 4:7

There were times in my life when I had no peace. Anxiety and depression had literally taken hold of my life. My mind was bombarded with negative and irrational thoughts of lies that the enemy told me, and sadly I believed them. Anxiety and depression were plagues from the enemy to eradicate my soul day in and day out. I allowed them both to take the place of God’s peace in my heart, mind, and emotions. I sought peace in all the wrong places – looking for love and acceptance from family and friends hoping that will give me peace but the more I looked for love and acceptance, the more I felt unloved and rejected, I felt like no one cared. Also, I thought that I could have found peace in hurting myself so I attempted suicide many times hoping to end the pain but peace was not there. Nevertheless, God has been gracious and merciful to me. He taught me over the years (and is still teaching me) how to surrender to Him and fix my thoughts on Him so that instead of anxiety, His peace can keep my heart and mind.

It is inspiring to know that we can overcome anxiety and depression. Paul informs us that the consequence of having an attitude of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving in everything is the “peace” of God.

Philippians 4:7 encourages us by saying “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

Today I will like to draw your attention to the following words from the aforementioned verses in order to help you understand the true essence of this portion of Scripture.

The word “passeth” is the Greek word hyperecho. This is a compound of the words huper and echo. The word huper empirically mean over, above, and beyond. It portrays something that is way beyond measure. It conveys the idea of superiority; something that is utmost, paramount, foremost, first-rate, first-class, and top-notch; greater, higher, and better than, superior to; preeminent, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed or unequalled. The second part of the word “passeth” is the Greek word echo, this word means I have, as someone who holds something in his possession. It can be translated to keep; to possess; to have; to hold; or even to acquire (Renner, 2003).

The Greek word hyperecho which is formed when these two words huper and echo are compounded, used by Paul in Philippians 4:7, signifies a peace so superior that it is held high above all other type of peace. God’s peace is a type of peace that transcends, outdoes, surpasses, excels, rises above, and goes beyond and over the top of any other kind of peace (Renner, 2003).

Humanity has been searching and trying all sorts of things to bring them peace but to no avail. They may think they have found peace that lasts only for a while. That’s because there is no other peace in the world to be compared with the peace of God.

Furthermore, Paul tells us that God’s peace exceeds “all understanding”. The Greek word nous which is the classic Greek word for the mind is translated “understanding” in English. This word refers to the ability to think, to reason, to understand, and to comprehend. Moreover, it portrays the mind as the source of all human emotions. The mind is also described as the central control center for a human being. Hence, it stands to reason that the condition of the mind is what determined the condition of one’s life (Renner, 2003).

Additionally, Paul tells us that God’s peace “shall keep” your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The word “keep” is the Greek word phroureo. This is a military term that articulates the notion of soldiers who stood faithfully at their post at the city gates to guard and control all who went in and out of the city. They functioned as gate monitor, and no one entered or exited the city without their authorization (Renner, 2003).

God’s peace which “passeth” – hyperecho all “understanding” – nous shall “keep” – phroureo your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In other words, according to the Greek scholar Rick Renner, God’s peace is – a peace so wonderful that it cannot be compared to any other type of peace; a peace that stands in a category all by itself, and rises far above and goes beyond anything the human mind could ever think, reason, imagine, or produce by itself. God’s peace will stand at the entrance of our heart and mind, working like a guard to control, monitor, and screen everything that tries to access our minds, heart, and emotions.

If you are in search of peace for your soul, look no more, for your Heavenly Father is Jehovah Shalom, Your peace. He is the Prince of Peace. Let Him take control of your life today.

My prayer is for you to experience the peace that passes understand every day of your life.

Shalom!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father it is such a delight to know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves and cares for me, and to whom I can pray about everything. Thank You for Your shalom peace. I am so grateful for Your shalom peace. You are indeed the Prince of Peace. I declare today that my heart and mind are kept by God’s peace which passes understanding. Hence, I need not be anxious for anything. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name. Amen!