Peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do no give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid John 14:27
He promises peace. His peace.
And I love that it’s not the kind the world gives because quite frankly I’m having a hard time finding peace in the chaos of the world these days.
The world offers short-lived peace through distractions or submits that peace results in the absence of conflict.
As someone who experienced a lot of drama and conflict early on in my teens and early twenties I personally cherish peace. I really do; it is the absolute goal of my life. Friends joke that I’m too easy-going and relaxed but honestly I just absolutely need peace and it’s this peace that Christ offers that I now am able to live out and experience in my life.
However, this has not always been the case for me. Having struggled with anxiety for many years, peace at times has seemed elusive. It would come and go but would often be dependent on my circumstances. If things were going well, I would feel peace. If situations or relationships were challenging, I would feel chaotic and fearful.
I was living in the world’s peace.
Christ’s peace leads to confident assurance in any situation. With His peace there is no need to fear the present or future. It moves into our hearts and enables our fears, doubts and uncertainties to be restrained. In their place He offers comfort and rest if we are willing to receive it.
It seems like an easy choice; yes please I want peace, right? But in order to really be able to receive it, we must be willing to surrender our fears and doubts and trust that the Lord is greater than our circumstances.
True peace comes from knowing that God is in control.
When we are able to do this, we can experience His peace no matter what storms we may face in our lives.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Today can we let His peace guard our hearts against stress and anxiety?
There is nothing like the peace which God gives. Thank you for sharing peaceful thoughts. Thank you for reminding me that God is in control. Needing to remember that at this time. God bless.
Maxine, thanks so much for stopping by. Praying His peace will cover over you.
Only in Him may we have peace, just one of many blessings of believing.
He alone is my peace. I want to come sit on that dock in that chair, wrapped up in His peace.