Where is Peace?

When you read a blog, you are probably looking for a bit of peace . . . and quiet.  Something to relax your mind, yet interesting and engaging.  I can honestly admit I have written blog posts that create no peace and instead make the reader leave frustrated yet thoughtful about my subject.  We don't really gain peace through a blog, do we?  We allow ourselves to de-stress and to be calm, but this isn't really peace, is it?

For some reason, I am not a peaceful person.  I'm not saying that I stir up trouble with every person I see, but I am not always a relaxed kinda gal.  I am upset so easily by things. If I find a word interpreted wrong in a devotional, I'm up in arms. If I feel like I've been forgotten, I feel offense. If I'm cut off by Italian drivers in traffic, I snarl. Where is my peace?

Where is that "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" that "will guard" my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 ESV)?

When I think of David in the Bible, I see a guy whose life was extremely "unpeaceful."  He was always dealing with something!  One minute he's talking about lying down in green pastures and the next he's crying before heaven's doors dealing with heart's bitter agony.  Yet in spite of all of it, he has a peace.  Every time he ends one of his psalms he looks to God in trust and counts on Him to be his peace.

But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

(Psalm 40:16, ESV)

 

Is there a difference then between having peace . . . and quiet around you and having a peace within you?  I think so.  Around me things don't always work out alright.  Things just don't go the way I planned, but you know what?  God hasn't changed.  His love for me hasn't changed.  My peace inside can't be affected by things not being at rest in my life.  If I take the time to think about my hope in God, I realize that nothing can truly shake me.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

Where is peace?  My peace is found in my Rescuer, Jesus.  When we find ourselves disturbed and our hearts troubled, Jesus says, ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14:1, NIV 1984).  Nothing in this world can take God's love from us!

As I continue with my weekend and with my week, I just want to raise my hands up to God in surrender.  I want to let go of my upset feelings and my inner turmoil and lay them at his feet asking for his strength to continue on.  Asking for his peace, because you know what?  He will give it to me.  God's got this!