A Peace of My Mind: Encouragement for Ministers' Wives
- Church was making me sick - literally! Driving away from church that day, I was quite sure the knot in my stomach would dislodge the cheap burger I had for lunch. I was equally sure that the throbbing in my head would be pacified if I could just give a few key people a piece of my mind. The church conflict had finally gotten to me, and I cried out for God to let my husband do anything other than pastor a church.
- If you're a minister's wife, you know exactly what I'm talking about! In that particular situation, God brought to my mind Philippians 4:6-9. I listened as the Lord gently reminded me not to be anxious. Through His Word, He showed me how to stand firm in Him when everything around me seemed unstable. Maybe He can use what I learned to encourage you.
- Right praying is the first cure for stressful situations like the one I was experiencing. "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." In times of stress, we can specifically and passionately pray, laying out our hurts before the Lord.
- We must then accept with a thankful heart the way He chooses to deal with our situation. He may change the circumstances, or He may change us. (In my case, I had a feeling it would be the latter) Even so, that day I prayed with a thankful, surrendered heart, and the second part of that Scripture took hold: "And the peace of God …will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
- The Lord promises His peace will stand guard, like a soldier at his post, over our hearts and minds. Anxious thoughts in our minds produce anxious feelings in our hearts, but prayer opens the door to let the God of peace take up His post and stand guard!
- Right thinking comes next. In my experience, prayer was not the final solution. I had to also "take every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul shows us how to do this in Philippians 4:8: "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things."
- It is often tempting to replay hurtful events over and over in our minds. Paul, however says that we can replace those thoughts with things that are true (God's promises), honorable (another's kindness), pure and lovely (our precious Redeemer), or things excellent and praiseworthy (His infinite grace to us). Dwelling on these things keeps the peace of God standing firm at the doorpost of our minds.
- Right living is Paul's final admonishment in the face of anxiety. "Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me …" In other words: "Girlfriend, do what you know is right!" That day I knew I couldn't give anyone a piece of my mind. Part of being called into ministry is doing what I know is right even when I'd rather not. I knew peace could only come through obedience. "… and the God of peace will be with you." Peace had eluded me all along, and yet I desired it more than any change of circumstances or events.
- Right praying, right thinking, and right living result in peace - yes, even for ministers' wives in the many stressful situations we face! I can testify that's true because that day, my hamburger stayed down, my headache went away, and the role of pastor's wife was once again a privilege to me. The God of peace kept His promise to me, and He will be faithful to you as well! When we choose to take Him at His Word in difficult situations, He will stand guard so we can stand firm – in peace.
