“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)

At a factory, a supply clerk stumbled upon a box sitting on the loading dock. It had bold red letters screaming: “DANGER! DO NOT TOUCH!” Instantly, alarms went off in people’s minds. Was it something toxic? Dangerous equipment? A threat to everyone’s safety?

The box sat there like a ticking time bomb while speculation and worry swirled.  Finally, the foreman — outfitted with gloves and safety glasses — approached with great care.  Slowly, cautiously, he opened it.

Inside?  Twenty-five signs.  Each one said: “DANGER! DO NOT TOUCH!”  That’s it.  No chemicals.  No explosives.  Just a box full of signs.

Isn’t that similar to what we often do in our minds?  We sometimes treat situations in life like that box — approaching them with dread, imagining the worst, only to find out things are not nearly as scary as we thought.  We plaster all sorts of warning signs in our mind — “What if this goes wrong?”  “What if they’re upset with me?”  “What if I fail?”  Before long, fear takes over and we’re filled with worry.

But in Philippians 4, Paul lets us know that God offers us a better way.  God knows we’re going to face situations that make us nervous. Life is full of unknowns.  But instead of telling us to just “calm down” or “ignore it,” he tells us to bring it to him and unload our fears into his hands.

When we do that, our perspective shifts.  We start to see things more clearly.  Sometimes, what once looked like a big, dangerous “box” turns out to be just a pile of empty warnings.  Other times, even if the situation is truly difficult, we know that we’re not alone in facing it.

God’s peace doesn’t always mean the problem disappears, but it does mean that our lives are no longer controlled by fear.  His peace guards us, shielding our hearts and our minds, reminding us that we are loved, protected, and not alone.

Perhaps today, there’s a “box” in your life that’s got you worried.  Bring it to God.  Let him show you what’s really inside, and allow his peace to replace your fear.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being greater than my fears and anxieties. Teach me to trust you more deeply, turning to you in prayer instead of worrying about the unknown.  Fill my heart with your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day