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.
If you’re not intimately familiar with this scripture, welcome to one of my favorites. Philippians 4:6-7.
Do not be anxious about anything
How can I not, Lord?
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And what if I do that but still find an unsettling in my soul? What then, Father?
And here is where I am. Unsettled and waiting for
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding
It isn’t a pretty place to be. I know that God delivers on every promise so where is my peace? It is in those moments of hopelessness that the enemy will slip in and urge you to question your faith; he will capitalize on your despair and literally STEAL your peace from you. The enemy is crafty and manipulative..and when we are at a point of the most fundamental need for peace, he isn’t going to suddenly withdraw in defeat. In fact, that’s when he is going move in for the kill. We are vulnerable and he is evil.
We are vulnerable and he is evil.
So if I’m not experiencing the peace I am praying for, it is because I have allowed a crack for the enemy to slip in. I have allowed hopelessness to cast doubt on my prayers.
And the peace I thought someone close to me had has been stolen, too. Peace and hope and faith that was bright and beautiful just weeks ago has been replaced by unrest, hopelessness and apathy. The enemy is SO conniving that I am being blamed for the change in this person. To have someone accuse you that you’re responsible for their lack of faith and fire for God is nothing short of horrifying.
Upon hearing those words and every other hate filled word that has recently been uttered from this persons lips, I caved. In my weakness, I failed. Rage won over peace.
I am just a fleshly person and I failed because I had begun to doubt God’s promise to me. I had stopped abiding in Him because of my circumstances instead of “in spite” of my circumstances.
That was a painful lesson for me. I have wallowed in pain for days on end because of my own lack of faith and because I took the words from this persons mouth and gave them more validity and importance than the words I was praying. 
Well, I’m a work in progress. I can throw in the towel or I can press in and get my heart and head in the right place. I can continue to defend myself or I can experience peace and allow God to deal with this person. I can be angry or anxious….no, actually, I can’t do that. I’ve reached the bottom of the pit on those emotions. So I have a choice; an opportunity.
Pressing in.
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.
My flesh isn’t going to win this battle; God is.
Be blessed,
Amy
Praying WITH you! This is EXACTLY how the enemy works! Stand strong and at the feet of Jesus.