4 Rejoice[c] in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.[d] 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
A few months back, Teresa and I saw a wonderful musical called “Come from Away”. It is set in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11 (and September 12, 13, 14, 15) 2001. It tells the story of the 38 planes that were ordered to land there as the American airspace was closed on 9/11, and how the Newfoundlanders welcomed thousands of stranded people who had “Come from Away.”
As a part of the tale, a native Newfoundlander is driving a bus of native African travelers into the night to emergency lodging at a Salvation Army Camp. It is dark. Fear has overwhelmed an African woman and her family. With a language barrier, it seems there is no way to communicate. Then bus driver from Newfoundland sees a Bible in the African woman’s hand. He motions to her to see if he might hold it. She consents. He then fumbles his way to what he hopes is Philippians 4:6 — and he points to the verse as he says “Be anxious about nothing”. In the play, then the two actors together say – “And that’s when we started speaking the same language.”
Paul, a follower of Jesus, wrote to some Christians in Philippi who were facing uncertain times, ”Do not worry about anything (be anxious about nothing), but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
God has the same message for Christians in Central Florida and around the globe today. Hopefully, we are all speaking the same language of hope and faith and trust.
Peace be with you.
God, we pray for safety and security, for health and wholeness for our nation, our world, and ourselves. As we turn to You in prayer, help us to find the peace that passes all understanding, through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.