I missed you guys last week. I was off in search of peace.
Let me explain. My Sunday School class is studying about peace right now. When I told them I was going to miss class last week because I was on vacation, I told them I was off searching for peace at the beach. It could not have been a more true statement. Some things are going on in my life right now that make finding peace a real challenge. My husband and I needed this break.
Something about the bigness of the sea, and the smallness of me standing by it, help to put my problems into perspective. Nothing is too hard or too big for my Big, Big God. The waves and wind still know His name. He is the Peace Speaker. He can easily calm the waves and the wind. How do I know? He has done it for me before, more than once. I believe He can and HE WILL do it again. Even more, I know that if He chooses not to calm the storm, that He can and HE WILL calm me. And that is no easy feat.
Can you relate? Don’t we all seek peace? While it is something we all long for, sometimes it eludes us no matter how hard we search for it. I read recently that more people commit suicide because they lack peace than because they lack love or happiness. What a sobering thought.
Peace is …
What makes a widow’s heart-warming smile glisten through broken-hearted tears when her family appears at her door.
What makes a single mom pull her babies close and giggle as they spot their first snow of the year out the window, when she doesn’t know how she’s going to pay the heating bill.
What makes a mom and wife with a life-threatening illness pull out all the stops and work tirelessly to make a special dinner for her family.
What makes a lonely wife missing her soldier husband raise money for a men’s shelter and serve in their soup kitchen.
What makes a grieving mother able to take a deep breath and thank God for another day.
What helps each of us hold it together through another day when things seem to be falling apart.
Peace. That. Passes. All. Understanding.
But how can we find it?
Jesus brought peace into the World when He was born on that blessed night so long ago. The angels proclaimed it: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14
Peace … blessed peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
And when He got ready to ascend, He left us peace. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
When Jesus shed His blood for us, He poured peace into the World. Because of His sacrifice and our acceptance of His gift of everlasting life, we can rest knowing that whatever we face is temporary. We have Heaven to look forward to one day. And while we are here, He will help us through. He will either speak peace to our storms, or speak peace to us.
Dear Lord: Sometimes confusion and defeat creep in trying to steal our joy. We need Your deep-down-in-my-heart kind of peace that stays with us day and night, and speaks confidently to the waves and into the wind. Calm our anxious spirit, Lord; all the attacking “if onlys” and “what ifs” that fill us with needless worry.
Trust is a big part of experiencing peace, and fear has no place in our lives. We can’t control people, plans, or even all our circumstances, but we can yield those things to You, and focus on Your goodness. Thank You today for every good gift you’ve given, every blessing You’ve sent, all the forgiveness we did not deserve, and, yes, for every trial You’ve allowed. You bring good out of every circumstance if we’ll only let go and believe You.
Whenever we’re stressed, anxious, or afraid, help us remember Who to run to. You’re the only one that can calm our fears. You are our peace. And when we draw close to You—in prayer, in reading your Word, in helping another, in taking our minds off ourselves—You are there. Thank You for always being there with Your sweet peace. Amen
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
It Is Well With My Soul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5o9mP22V0
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Has there been a time when God spoke peace into an impossible situation in your life? Are you waiting for Him to do it right now? Trust Him to do it again. He is faithful. Please share your comments, thoughts and experiences.
Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost. May the Lord speak peace into your life today, and calm any storm you might be facing.