Peace: At All Times In Every Way

“Peace I leave you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

-John 14:27

Close your eyes and picture “peace.”  Picture yourself at perfect peace.  Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with?

I would be curious to know how many of you pictured yourself on a quiet beach with a book in your hand, soaking in some warm rays of sun.  Or maybe your peace is on the deck of a mountain cabin sipping on a warm cup of coffee.  Did anyone picture themselves in their daily chaos, juggling tasks of work, kids, husbands and other daily responsibilities?  

Notice that Jesus points out in this verse that He does not give as the world gives, and the Bible tells us that the peace of Jesus is for all times in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16).  Hmmmm.  Take that one in for a minute.  This means that the peace of Jesus is for the moment when I am pulling out my hair with a one-year old latched on to me and a three year-old throwing a tantrum.  His peace was for me as I knelt in the hallway of the hospital’s pediatric ward praying for my child’s life.  His peace is for the mom of school aged children as she rushes kids to and from soccer practice and piano lessons and is feeding them fast food in the car on the way there.  This peace is for the mom who just sent her last baby away to college and is disturbed by the unwanted peace and quiet that she once longed for.  This peace is for the woman who is waiting for a child to call her own and finds the longing in her soul painful and some days unbearable.  This peace is for all of us, girls, at all times, in every way.  

I bet I know what some of you are thinking…how in the world am I supposed to grab a hold of His peace in those most chaotic moments?  Our answer is found in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  We fix our minds on Jesus, our Prince of Peace.  When you are in the midst of your chaos and find yourself planning your escape where you can runaway and take a nice, long bubble bath…alone…without tiny fingers poking through under the bathroom door…with classical music playing in the background…and a lavender candle burning an aroma that makes you feel calm and relaxed (oops, sorry.  I got carried away for a minute there.), just whisper the name of Jesus.  Fix your mind on Him. Talk to Him and ask Him to show you His peace, not like the world gives, but as He gives.  Let His presence overwhelm you in the moment.  

It is a supernatural miracle that occurs when we are captured by the presence of God.   Earlier I mentioned kneeling in the hallway of the pediatric ward, praying for my child’s life.   I mentioned that memory because it stands out as one of those moments when I experienced God’s perfect peace.  My 3 month old daughter was very near death and was having a procedure done.  The doctors asked me to step out so I went into the hallway and put on one of my favorite worship songs, got down on my knees, and cried out to God.  With tears streaming down my face, I felt Jesus come and sit in front of me, resting my head in his lap.  He was there with me.  I was overcome by His presence, and my heart was no longer troubled or afraid.  That is the perfect peace that Jesus promises to give us at all times in every way. 

I am not including a prayer today.  Instead, I am including a link to a song by Laura Story, titled Perfect Peace.  As you listen to this song, pray and fix your mind on the Prince of Peace.  You can choose to do it now, or wait until you need a fresh dose of peace after your day gets going.  Either way, I pray this helps you find peace.  

Fix your minds on Him today, and He will keep you in perfect peace.   Have a peaceful day today, dear friends. 

Happy Friday!