I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time trying to understand. I care deeply and, as a result, I have always asked a lot of questions.
As a student, I spent additional time underlining, was routinely raising my hand, and even received tutoring to fully understand.
As a young adult in leadership programs, I learned that I should seek to understand before being understood.
As a journalist, I set out to understand what makes people tick, why they do what they do, and how that impacts the world around them.
In church, I have often sat in the front, taking notes to make sure the message stuck.
I have sought to understand how bodies and health work to try and get things right.
In relationships, I have found myself confused and have spent even years trying to understand dynamics, motives, and turning points.
In business, I have researched and combed through information to make sure I fully understand to get it all right.
I always seek to understand what the right thing is to do – by the Bible, by people, in business, and law.
And, many times, I have felt stupid… truly… when I have failed to understand something, whether it was school, work, or otherwise.
Understanding… its something we seek… And the wheels just keep turning and turning as we try to make sense of life and get it all right.
When I have lacked understanding , I have gone into fear… fearing I wasn’t smart enough, experienced enough or strong enough to protect myself, to advance myself or my family.
And, get this… understanding is good. There are proverbs and psalms that teach us to seek understanding, to seek wisdom. But seeking wisdom is different than trying to gain a sense of power by knowing it all or launching into fear and anxiety for not knowing everything.
In fact, while understanding is good, the Bible tells us there is something that surpasses understanding… something greater that trumps it… Something greater that guards us more than getting it all…
In Philippians 4:6-7 it says,
“Do 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.”
The PEACE OF GOD transcends understanding.
Peace does not come when you have it all figured out. Because you can have an IQ that is sky-high and experience greater than them all, but you will never fully understand, never know it all, never have it all figured out… We simply are incapable of understanding everything. Only God does.
We don’t have all of the answers. So, if we are leaning on our own understanding to have peace, we will never have peace. But, when we lean on God, we will experience peace that surpasses understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
I don’t know about you, but I get tired of trying to figure it all out — forfeiting peace and sleep just to never fully understand. But, raising my hands and surrendering to God – our Creator King – is absolutely peace-evoking.
I pray that today, both you and I can give our cranking minds a break and just receive the peace of God that transcends our ability to understand. Peace surpasses understanding. And that peace is God’s gift to us, so we can rest in Him, just knowing that He is good and He never slumbers. He is taking care of it all.
God, I love you. Thank you for being so good and for being God over the throne of all, including Lord over my life. I thank you that your peace transcends my ability to understand and that you are the guarder of my heart. I give my heart, as well as all of my concerns, to you today. Thank you for giving me your peace in return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sarah Guldalian 