We are in relationship with God. In all things He is our refuge, and events do not disturb Him.

He knows everything. He knows it beforehand. Events shake neither His throne nor His heart, they always accomplish His purposes. But to us He is love. We are, through grace, the objects of His tender care.

He listens to us and bows down His ear to hear us. In all things, therefore, instead of disquieting ourselves and weighing everything in our own hearts, we ought to present our requests to God in prayer, with supplication, and with a heart that makes itself known, (for we are human beings), but with the knowledge of the heart of God, for He loves us perfectly. Even while making our petition to Him, we can already give thanks, because we are sure of the answer of His grace. It is our requests that we are to present to Him. Nor is it a cold commandment to find out His will and then come. We are to go with our requests. Hence it does not say, you will have what you ask, but it promises God's peace will keep your hearts.

This is trust. His peace, the peace of God Himself, shall keep our hearts. It does not say that our hearts shall keep the peace of God. But having cast our burden on Him whose peace nothing can disturb, His peace keeps our hearts.

Our trouble is known to Him, the God of love, who takes charge of everything and knows all beforehand. He quiets our burdened hearts and imparts to us the peace which is in Himself and which is above all understanding, even as He Himself is above all the circumstances that can disquiet us, and above the poor human heart that is troubled by them.

Oh, what grace! that even our anxieties are a means of our being filled with this marvelous peace, if we know how to bring them to God. How true He is.

—J.N.D.