Finding Peace

[Jesus speaking] I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT

We live in stressful times. I'm relatively certain that every generation since the beginning of time has uttered or written those words... Psalm 34:19 reads, The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. In 2nd Timothy 3:11-12 NLT, Paul writes, You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Hmmmm...Doesn't exactly give you warm fuzzies, does it?

We think we could have peace if we could just get away or "veg" for a while - not have to think about anything - or at least think about a lesser number of things. Zone out on mindless pursuits of amusement, but the Truth is that's not real peace. And when we're done trying to do it our own way, we find that peace is fleeting. It won't carry us through the storms of life and yet we keep looking for it in those things.

If I'm going to hunt seashells, I'm not going to look for them by the side of a road (unless I live in Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi). If I'm looking for a reliable car, I'm not going to a flea market to get one. If I'm in the market for a house, I'm not going to find it in an aisle at Wal-Mart. So why would we try to find peace where God is not? The Good News is God gave us a way to deal with the stresses of life. Christ went to the Cross to deliver us out of all our struggles. Isaiah 53:5 in the Amplified Bible reads, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

When I feel most overwhelmed - totally stressed out by the things life throws at me - is when I'm trying to do it on my own. In my own strength - in what I believe to be my own ability...when I forget that any ability I have has been given to me by God. I cannot produce peace on my own. I cannot give out peace that I don't have... so why do I think I can find peace that passes understanding anywhere apart from the presence of the Lord?

And to get in His presence, I look for Him. I come before His presence with singing and I hunt His Word. John 16:33 NKJV, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in 1st Peter 5, we will humble ourselves under Your mighty power, and at the right time, You will lift us up. Father, we give You all our worries and cares, because You care for us. We will stay alert and watch out for the enemy. We will not be devoured by him. Help us to see past the roar to Your peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen