Peace….sometimes elusive, isn’t it?
What happens when peace disintegrates into chaos, when a husband loses his job and finances are cut off, when a child is in a car wreck, when the repo man stands knocking at the door, when pain strikes the chest and there is no insurance, when the roof overhead is in jeopardy of being taken away, when the cupboard holds no more than the cup?
Are you dealing with any of these issues? Or maybe your circumstances concern the loss of a loved one, divorce, separation, depression, addictions, or any number of other things?
Have you maintained peace in your suffering? No? It is sometimes very difficult, isn’t it?
When we allow the cares and anxieties of life to overwhelm us and we make no time to sit at the feet of our most Beloved Lord for intimate conversations, we relegate Him to a waiting room. And our peace crumbles.
But what is peace? Peace is the tranquil state of a soul, the calm trust and rest in the Lord that brings harmony to the depths of an agonizing heart in the midst of a fiery trial.
When chaos invades my world, do I still claim His peace and praise Him? And when the enemy swirls his darkness around me and attempts to discourage or frighten me, do I still trust the Lord? Yes, indeedy!
Paul said, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 TLB)
Trust begets peace. Total reliance on the Lord carries us through the worst of life’s flames. Isaiah wrote of God’s promise of peace, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” (Is. 26:3 HCSB)
Are you struggling to retain your heart’s peace? The Bible says God is Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace, and Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, always. Therefore, that shalom-peace is always with us.
When you persevere in trusting Him, the Lord will “give you His peace no matter what happens.” (2 Thess. 3:16 TLB)
Peace…where are you? That gift of peace is within us, for Christ “Himself is our peace.” (Eph. 2:14 NKJV)
Just as He told His disciples, Jesus tells us, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 TLB)
Scripture tells us that “God has called us to live in peace” (1 Cor. 7:15b NIV), to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col. 3:15 NKJV), and that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6 NKJV)
Are you living in peace? Or are there things rolling around in your head and heart making an uproar? Are you sitting at the Lord’s feet or have you put Him on a waiting list?
My prayer for you is this: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NLT)
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