King in the Crossfire: Finding Peace in God's Presence

In our journey through Philippians, we're exploring how God's kindness matures us together. This week, we discover how the presence of the Lord brings the peace we all long for, even in our most difficult conflicts.

Peace.

We all long for it, don't we? There's a reason wellness has grown into a $2 trillion industry in the United States alone. We're desperate for something—anything—that will bring order to our chaotic lives and harmony to our relationships.

Yet for all our searching, conflict seems unavoidable. It creeps into every corner of our lives: the neighbor's late-night music, the coworker who gets promoted without deserving it, family tensions, and the internal conflicts in our own souls.

Where can we find peace in a world full of conflict? Where can we find rest when bullets are flying around us?

Our text in Philippians 4:2-9 reveals something surprising: The peace we're looking for isn't found where we expect it. The big idea is simple but profound:

Pursue Peace in the Presence of the Lord

The peace you long for won't be found by thinking your way out of problems or controlling your environment. It comes from finding your place in God's presence. Paul gives us four ways to pursue this peace:

1. Look Up

The church in Philippi was dealing with an argument between two prominent leaders:

"I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:2-3)

Have you ever been so deep in conflict that you lost perspective? My wife and I recently took a bike ride through Shark Valley in the Everglades. We pedaled through alligator-infested sawgrass until we reached an observation tower. Looking at the map, we realized how small we were in the vast wilderness.

That's what Paul is doing here. He's inviting these women to climb the observation tower—to look up from their immediate conflict—and remember where they are. He doesn't just tell them to "agree," but to "agree in the Lord." He reminds them of their identity as sisters in Christ whose names are written together in the Book of Life.

When we're in conflict, we easily treat others as enemies. Paul is saying: Look up! Remember you're not enemies. You were both enemies of God who've been made citizens and friends. You have far more in common than what separates you.

Their horizontal conflict reveals a vertical issue:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)

Often, the reason we lack peace during conflict is that an object of our worship is under threat. Our need for respect, control, or affection is challenged, and the conflict exposes our hope in perishable things rather than in the Lord.

As James 4:1-5 explains, our quarrels come from passions at war within us. The Lord is present during our conflicts, yearning jealously over us like a lover whose bride is unfaithful.

2. Loosen Your Grip

"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:5)

You know what it's like to enter a conflict with a fully painted mental picture of the situation. You've reconstructed your relationship with the other person and think, "If they could just SEE this picture—understand what I see so clearly—everything would be better."

But "reasonableness" here means something deeper: not insisting on every right, not holding others to the letter of the law, being yielding and kind.

Paul is describing someone who's drawn their picture in pencil, not pen—someone expecting to learn something new: "Here's what I experienced, but maybe I'm wrong. Help me understand where I'm misunderstanding you."

It's the difference between a lawyer trying to win a case and scientists working together to solve a problem.

This open-handed attitude matters because "the Lord is at hand"—both in proximity and in time. The way we relate to others in conflict shows what we believe about God. Our God isn't an exacting dictator who demands we fully understand all our offenses before showing affection. His hands weren't gripped tightly around his rights but were opened and pierced for us.

When Jesus returns and we stand before him, we won't regret letting someone off the hook. Our hands will be open in awe of his love.

3. Lower Your Guard

"Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Few things leave us feeling more vulnerable than unresolved conflict. When conflict threatens something we love, our minds flip into anxiety overdrive. We keep anxiously replaying conversations and roleplaying future encounters.

We think, "If I analyze this long enough, I can protect myself from being hurt." Like Doctor Strange, we try to see every possible future to find the one where we'll be safe.

But Paul says: "The peace of God surpasses all understanding" at guarding you. Your mental gymnastics won't protect you. God's peace will.

If God cares for birds and clothes flowers, how much more will he care for you? You're worth so much that he gave his own Son to protect you from the storm of God's wrath.

Instead of anxiously trying to guard yourself, let the peace of God guard your heart and mind by bringing honest prayers of thanksgiving to him.

What would it look like to pause in the middle of your next conflict and pray with the person you're arguing with? What if you thanked God together for things about each other? Lower your guard with God, and let him be your protection.

4. Live in His Presence

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

Paul pulls back from the specific conflict to summarize his teaching. This isn't about positive thinking or adding rules to your refrigerator checklist. Notice the progression: earlier, Paul said "the peace of God" will guard you. Now he says "the God of peace will be with you." The peace we seek isn't found in following rules but in dwelling with the God who loves us.

There are voices shouting at us all day long: You're alone. You're unlovable. People will leave you. We need to renew our minds daily with truth.

All these qualities Paul calls us to think about are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus:

• Whatever is TRUE – Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life"

• Whatever is HONORABLE – Jesus is highly exalted at the Father's side

• Whatever is JUST – Jesus is the only truly just and righteous one

• Whatever is PURE – Jesus is the pure and spotless lamb of God

• Whatever is LOVELY – Jesus is the source of all beauty

Our ambition should be to spend our lives reminding ourselves of what's true about Jesus and dwelling in his presence daily.

The Foundation of All Peace

If you're still in vertical conflict with God, all other peace will remain elusive. The peace Jesus offers doesn't depend on your performance. It's not a paycheck—it's an inheritance you receive all at once and have forever.

No matter who leaves you or hurts you—God will never leave you. Jesus came to you while you were still his enemy and died for you.

Even as Christians, it's easy to forget that the God of peace dwells with us. When others are upset with us, we think, "God must be mad at me too." But that's not true.

You can have peace today—not because everyone around you is doing what you want, but because God himself poured out his blood that you might be his child now and forever. You have an identity that's unshakable and secure.

Pursue peace in the presence of the Lord. Everything else will fade and fail. When the shaking comes, everything built on sand will fall—but Jesus will not.

Look up. Loosen your grip. Lower your guard. Live in his presence.

This post is based on a sermon from our series "Grown-Up Grace: How the Kindness of God Matures Us Together" at Palm Vista Community Church. Join us Sunday mornings at 10:30am or catch the full sermon on our YouTube channel.