Peace

Lately living in peace has been an elusive pursuit for me.  I seem to constantly find myself worrying about everything. Current world affairs, situations at work, relationships in my family, you name it and I will worry about it. But I have been walking with the Lord for a long time. I should know better.  What’s wrong with me?  Where is my faith?

The answer is actually pretty simple. The prophet Isaiah makes it clear, “You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3.

Every time I get my eyes off the Lord and onto my circumstances I sacrifice that peace that God promises to those who trust Him.  The peace of God is quietness in our spirit that transcends our circumstances and allows us to trust Him no matter what might happen. When we come to embrace the love of God and realize that we are His and that He loves us, we can come to a place of rest and peace.

In the New Testament, Paul opens every one of his letters with some variant of the phrase “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."  Paul knew that the members of the early church were living in very difficult times, and that their circumstances were less than ideal.  He knew he had to keep their minds stayed on the Lord or they would grow fainthearted. He was reminding those early followers of Christ, and each of us today, that we need to develop a lifestyle of making the Lord our refuge and source of strength.  He knew that by keeping our eyes on God we would rise above our circumstances. He understood what the prophet Isaiah was teaching and he wanted it to apply in each of our lives. In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul provides the prescription for living a life of peace, “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 you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

I am praying that in this busy and often stressful time of year, you will keep your mind stayed on the Lord and that you will walk in the peace of God.

John Ohanian