Philipians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – New International Version

An elderly couple were being feted by their now mature ‘children’ as they marked their Golden Jubilee (50 years of marriage). What was remarkable about them was how they maintained love and mutual respect for one another in what was termed as 50 years of Peaceful Co-existence. One particular statement was repeated many times as those who knew them well made speeches in their honor… “We never saw them fight or argue”. 

When prompted to share the secret of their marital success, the man arose and started by quoting the Dutch Philosopher Baruch Spinoza who once said that “Peace is not the absence of war”. In context of their marriage, it was not true that they never fought or argued, they just never did it openly – certainly not in the hearing of their children. They had mastered the habit of respectfully disagreeing and fair fighting, which allowed them to privately discuss matters of contention and strive towards a peaceful resolution. 

This same beautiful piece of advice for married couples, is also echoed in God’s word as a guiding principle for Christians who have put their hope and faith in God. Peace in this case is not the absence of turmoil, but the steadfast trust in an omnipotent God, even in the midst of the storm. It is the calmness of heart and mind, brought about by the assurance that God will help us navigate through the storm and bring deliverance. That is why it transcends all understanding… You just can’t explain it. This is true Peace.