“Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I will say rejoice! . . . Be anxious for 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 minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4, 6, 7).

This has been a favorite passage of mine for a very long time, but it has taken on new meaning for us as we make this life-altering transition. The peace of God will guard my mind. Wow! I can’t imagine how God can take a harried, stress-filled mind and place His guard (guardian angel, perhaps) right there on moment-by-moment duty so we can sleep, eat and function to complete the necessary tasks at hand. What an awesome God!

We are praising God for supplying our needs as we prepare for overseas service. He has worked wonderfully in the miraculous sale of our home and the continual answers to prayer day by day that show us His goodness and His guiding hand.

It’s not an easy road for any of us, but I came across the following statement that brought such encouragement: “The very trials that test our faith most severely, and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are designed to lead us nearer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet, and receive the peace He will give us in exchange . . . When you surrender yourself entirely to God, when you fall all broken upon Jesus, you will be rewarded by a victory, the joy of which you have never yet realized” (Gospel Workers, p. 372).

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