Peace. It’s something not many of us have had the pleasure of feeling a lot during the last few years. If we are being honest with ourselves, peace isn’t Som a lot of us has had a firm grasp on for awhile. When you here then word peace, you may at first think of it in terms of external elements. The peace we all need is internal peace.
We know that this world is in trouble, but because of Jesus, He has given us a peace that shatters understanding. In John 14:27 Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let you heart be troubles and do not be afraid.
Here are a few ways God makes peace in our souls, although not how we expect. I pray these can give to comfort as the days progress.
- Through Our Past Mistakes
If you’re like me, you’ve made some mix. Whether it’s something only you and God know about, or something everyone is aware of, being human and sinful is a given. Mistakes are not roadblock that derails us from God’s plan for our life. Although our sins can have serious repercussions. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Our mistakes, our sins, are not what God intended for our lives. Because there is free will, and we are faulty humans, there are going to be moments in life where what we do was not intended for us. When we come to Jesus with repentant hearts, he graces us with Him unending forgiveness we can all have peace that surpasses all understanding. To be free from guilt and shame and then we can watch how God uses our past to give us a means to relate to others, and radiate His better plan as a gift. Our mistakes will help make peace to make peace with our souls.
- When Dreams Are Delayed.
Im a dreamer. I love thinking about what might be in my future with hope and fascination, but to be honest the older I get the harder it is to continue to dream. Cynicism is a nasty mindset that can grab ahold of a pillow sized dream in our hearts and punch it until it’s nothing more than a cotton ball.
Our dreams, I believe, are extensions of our gifts and talents. It’s the positive side of a story. So what we do with dreams that seem to be skipping on the record player of life? Should we give up on them and become “realistic?” By no mean. Give your dreams to the protective arms of God. It’s there, where we are about to give up, that God loves to bring us, and our hopes and dreams , into His loving arms., if we only surrender.
When we give our dreams to God, He will give us peace to move forward throughout the next day..,and the day after that. And whether or not a particular dream comes through on this side of heaven, we can have peace, knowing that God knows what is best for us, for our story, and for His Glory.
- In Sickness And Strife
I will always consider sickness and strife to be an unwanted condition and, while I wish that no one would have to endure it, it is unfortunately an impossible situation to avoid. We have all at one time or another, felt the pain and sadness that is a result of our own sickness that is a result of our own sickness and that of family and friends. How could one find peace in that you may ask?
While it’s not something wished on, many times when we are in a place of sickness and strife we become desperate and in a posture of surrender. Surrender to our physicians, surrender to our researchers and medical scientists, and when our hearts are in a need for rest, surrender to our great Lord and Savior. The peace I have experienced while sitting in a hospital bed praying or to hear of a loved ones next breath in the silence can only come from the Lord. This peace is not a flighty feeling but, deep, strong, and full of conviction.
When we lose our ground and the unknown diagnosis or test results are in the balance, reach out to the Father and He will give you peace that surpasses any test results.as John states so clearly in 3 John 1:2, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoyed good health, and that all may go well for you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
- When we Face Our Fears
What are you afraid of? That’s a loaded question for many of us. Andrew may be in any severity level between heights, spiders, small places, or even death. Wow, a certain level of fear keeps us from getting hurt. I can be considered “common sense,” The fear I’m talking about is a fear that overtake you and strip you of your power which the Holy Spirit wants to work in your life. Do you let fear of others opinion of you, reaction to you, or acceptance of you dictate how you live in agreement to what God has asked you to do? Does your fear of the unknown keep you from taking chances are following the Spirit’s lead in your life?
In Jeremiah 17:7-8, we are reminded how to work through those fears with trust in our Lord’s provision, “But blessed is the one who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that send out its roots by the stream. It does not have fear when heats comes; it’s leaves are always green. It have no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit.” When our roots are grounded in the Lord’s word, in prayer and in truth, then we will find a peace that surpasses any peace to be found in a human’s attention or acceptance.
- When Our World Is Crumbling
Over the last few years, we as a human race, have you seen numerous examples I would’ve fallen, sinful and painful place it can be. From the global pandemic, economic crisis, racial injustice, political strife, and severe weather, it’s not hard to find moments of unrest. I don’t know how each person is handling our currency state of affairs, or even how deeply the pain affects their everyday lives, but I do know from my own experiences through the past few years that my only source of peace has been from my Savior.
I have stood on 1 Peter 5:6-9 many times is says, “ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cash all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering.”
When the world around us is crumbling, Jesus is the only constant. When we realize Jesus is walking along with us through each tear feared night and anxious morning, we can receive His peace in our minds and hearts. It won’t mean that our monetary troubles on this earth will disappear. It don’t mean that we should give up on our part of bringing peace and love to our neighbors. It doesn’t mean we should become complacent or apathetic to issues at hand either. What it does mean is that we cannot give up on what God wants to do through us. We are each on this earth, at this moment in time, for a reason. We should be lifted up with His peace and keep walking together throughout our daily lives with love for one another.
From Pity to Praise 