Every day at 4:47 PM, my phone alarm rings. It is labeled ‘worry watch’ because I am constantly needing to be reminded of the peace and joy accessible to me through Christ. This season of Advent celebrates and focuses on the hope, peace, joy, and love that He brought into the world, and reminds us that while we wait for Him to come again, these gifts are available to us now.
Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A newborn with colic, a toddler who is two in the fullest sense of the word, and raging postpartum hormones threaten to steal what peace and joy might be waiting for me in any given moment. Honestly, it has been difficult to bear in mind the joy that is set before me when I am overstimulated and overtired.
But every day at 4:47 PM, regardless of what chaos surrounds me or what feelings are fleeting within me, I am pulled away from it all (even if just for a moment) to remember the gifts of peace and joy which transcend all understanding.
These gifts are better than anything you could wrap and place under a tree. They are not tangible items you can place on a wish list. These gifts come through the Spirit at work within us–God moving in the midst of our hearts and minds as we live as people of His Kingdom.
By every standard of the world, it would be easy to not count the third outfit change of the day as joy, but through the power of the Spirit, I can rejoice always. No one would think twice of me describing a home with a maniacal toddler and screaming infant as anything other than peaceful, but the peace He gives is beyond all understanding.
This is not to say that a simple alarm on the phone is the newest ‘hack’ all Christians need to find peace and joy. I will not claim that the alarm itself has any spiritual power; however, the interruption it provides, this intrusion of thought that reminds me of God’s Word and the promise of His joy and peace, IS a timely and helpful tool.
In a culture that is marked by too much hustle and hurry, where can you pause to remember the peace He offers? In the midst of a life filled with instant-gratification grabs, where can you remember the fullness of joy He brings?
For me, it’s at least at 4:47 PM every day.
When there is mess beyond my capacity – rejoice always
When this is outfit change number three – again I say, rejoice!
When the behaviors are beyond my patience – let your gentleness be evident
When I feel isolated and alone – The Lord is near
When the intrusive thoughts spiral – Do not be anxious about anything
When the ‘what-ifs’ pile – in every situation, by prayer and petition
When it all feels insurmountable – with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peyton Marple
Peyton is a part of our Christ’s Church family and serves on staff at one of our Impact ministry partners, Ozark Christian College.
Peyton is pictured here with her husband, Austin, sons, Everett and Elliot, and pup, Franklin.
