Peace

Peace

By Lisa

A lot has been going on in my life.  Things that overwhelm me…a lot of changes…  It’s made me tired and it’s made me question a lot of things going on in my life.  Through it all I’ve discovered that peace is not something easily acquired, and I have no idea how I could do it without Him.  Jesus is my peace.  He is my Solid Rock, who I know will never change and always remain constant.

He is a peace that the world does not give.  John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  With all the changes going on, I have often wanted to be afraid and troubled, yet with Christ as my Solid Rock and unchanging facet in life, I can have His peace.  

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When things get a little out of hand in this world, my mind tends to race a bit.  Ever since I was a little girl, my Mom quoted Isaiah 26:3 to me when I was scared and worried.  Even today when things are not going smoothly, I remember the words “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  It works, too.  When placing your focus on Him, the rest of the things in this world tend to slip away.  They don’t slip away completely – work still must be done, I still love my family and friends dearly, and I have things to accomplish – but with my mind on Him, all my troubles seem to slip into a part that is not nearly as overwhelming.  With Him, I am already blessed beyond measure, and I know He will never let me down.

Another verse my parents taught me at a very early age was Philippians 4:6-7 where Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”  Although this is a very common passage to be quoted and read, there is SO much in this passage which I think many of us fail to see given the common nature of it.  

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“Be anxious for nothing.”  Oh, but, I have a test tomorrow.  And a wedding which I needed to get ready.  And my family is moving.  Any my husband is on a ship and won't be home for a couple weeks.  And…and…and….  I’ve found myself saying that countless times.  But I’m not supposed to be anxious.  Instead I am supposed to pray – but not in worry.  I’m supposed to pray in THANKSGIVING and make my requests to God.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” By obeying Him and being anxious for nothing and praying with thanksgiving, we are given a peace from God.  A peace that is not of this world.  A peace that will guard our hearts and minds.  How powerful is that?  However, in our human fallacy we tend to think we have to worry about something.  Once again our God has proven that His ways our higher that our ways.  We are given instructions on how to live a better, more peaceful, life in the Scripture.

I pray that “The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  (Numbers 6:26)

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