Peace in the Secret Place

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests 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

The dictionary defines 'Anxiety' as:

 1.    A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
 2.    Strong desire or concern to do something or for something to happen.

Uncertainty is the root of anxiety. When we are not certain about how or when something we deeply desire will materialize, anxiety can slowly begin to grow in our minds. When left unchecked, it can develop into a chronic condition with negative consequences for our health and relationships. According to Harvard health, Anxiety has been implicated in several chronic physical illnesses, including heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions. It also causes behavioral changes such as Emotional and social withdrawal, irritability and compulsive behavior.

The scripture reading above tells us that God's Peace, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is a guard over our hearts and minds. Verse 6 starts by telling us to be anxious for nothing. This implies that God's peace guards our hearts and minds against anxiety.

So how do we experience God's peace? The answer is in 'the secret place'. Philippians 4:6 says “... by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. When teaching about prayer, Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 (Amplified) “But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.”  Notice that Jesus distinguished between our “Father who is in secret” and our “Father who sees [what is done] in secret”. Jesus was saying that God has a secret place. The New King James version states it explicitly: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)

David, while testifying about the peace he experienced in God's secret place said 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”  PS 91:1-2 (NKJV)

In the Old Testament, the term “secret place” comes from the Hebrew root word cether, which means “to hide or be concealed.”  Think of the secret hiding places we enjoyed as children. Imagine being ten years old and finding a secret hiding place under the stairs or in some other less used part of your home. You slipped inside, and it felt magical! You felt safe and protected from the world. You imagined that you could live there all the time and no one could find you. Often, you invited your best friend to share it with you, because secret hiding places are better shared with someone you love and trust.

That is the picture the psalmist is painting in Psalm 91. God has a secret hiding place, and He invites each of us to join Him there. Notice that He does not invite us to visit. The promise is to those who “dwell” there. To “dwell” means we live there. It becomes our address. God invites us to pack up and move to His secret place. To do so we must walk away from the clamor and enticements of the world. We must be willing to quiet our hearts before Him and allow Him to investigate those inner recesses we reveal to no one else. Secret places imply honesty and trust. We cannot join God in His secret place unless we are willing to be transparent and honest with Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father...” Jesus was not necessarily indicating a physical location, because we can pray anywhere at any time. But to really connect with God, we must enter into the secret place in our own spirits and meet God there. Quiet locations help, and we should seek solitude when we want to spend uninterrupted time with God. It is also helpful to have a designated place we go to spend time with God. Jesus did this while on earth. Although He often prayed in public, He also slipped away from the crowds and even His closest friends to spend time alone with His Father in solitude.

As we spend time with God in His secret place, we can boldly bring our requests and cast our cares on Him. There he can nurture the fruit of the Spirit called Peace in us. Only then can we hear his voice which while remove the uncertainties that cause anxiety in our lives.