And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Did you ever wonder what goes through the mind of a cow in a pasture? I remember as a lad being impressed by the placid appearance of the cows as they would lie relaxing and chewing their cuds. When we would play tag in the pasture, running among the cows, they would barely notice us after our initial appearance, slowly turning their heads to gaze idly off toward the mountains. No matter how excited we became, those cows didn’t care. They had their cud-chewing business to tend to, and they were going to relax and enjoy their time of peaceful rest, regardless of the excitement and confusion all around them. Those cows had the same approach as Christians who are enjoying the peace of God.
Just as we can’t understand how cows think and why they are so placid in the pasture, so the world cannot understand the calm and peaceful attitude of a Christian who is appreciating the peace of God. Actually, the Christian can’t understand the peace, either, as our text declares. But the Christian can enjoy the peace of God, even without understanding it. Access to that peace is simplicity itself, according to Isaiah 26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. The more we learn to trust in the Lord for all things, the more of His peace we enjoy in our lives. If we place our trust in the Lord, we will not need to be worried and uncertain about anything, as we leave the outcome in His hands. There is no need for us to be concerned, if we are trusting that He will take care of us, knowing that He always has our best interest in mind.
No, we cannot understand the peace of God. We cannot understand its magnitude. We are unable to grasp how those who grieve are given comfort and are enabled to bless God for His goodness instead of railing against the unfairness of their losses. Nor can we explain how the poor are given grace to give thanks for the little they have rather than whine about the much that they cannot grasp. We are puzzled by the contentment that envelopes the weary and afflicted who give no thought to escaping circumstances that they know are within the will of God. All these enjoy a peace that has no explanation in the concepts of this world.
The previous verse is a plea for God’s people to make sure that our prayers include thanksgiving. If we give thanks for that which we cannot appreciate or understand, we will have a peace that will be precious beyond our ability to explain. -Jim MacIntosh