Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

What picture does the word Peace paint in your mind?

For some it is a beautiful ocean scene with emerald blue water and rolling waves that softly glide onto white sandy beaches. Yet, for others it means a rustic log cabin set back in the piney woods with a creek gently flowing out front. Maybe for you it is a grand mountain range with deep, vast canyons and majestic mountains that seem to reach the sky.

No matter what picture comes to mind when you think of peace, it can never compare to that moment when God’s peace sweeps over your weary soul. The most beautiful landscape you could imagine could not compare to the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that only Jesus can bring.

Have you experienced that peace? I surely have many times.

Oftentimes when we think of peace, our minds tend to also picture a worry-free setting. We are quick to assume that peace means a lack of trouble. However, as I was reading in Acts 12 this morning, I came across a verse that caught my attention. In my mind it painted a rather unusual picture of peace. Acts 12:16 tells us, “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.”  

In order to fully grasp this picture of peace, let us go back just a moment and examine what is going on in this passage. Prior to Peter being imprisoned, he has had to endure seeing his fellow disciple, James, put to death at the hand of Herod. Now Peter finds himself imprisoned,no doubt facing the same fate that he has just watched James meet.

Now, we can continue our discussion on peace. Does the word peace come to mind when you read this story? Understandably not. So, how is it possible that we find Peter sleeping in this passage? Peace, Friend. It is because of that peace that passes all understanding that Peter can find himself chained between two guards, seemingly facing death, yet he sleeps.

I dare not say that I would handle such a situation the same way. Recently I have been going through some trials much less than imprisonment and death, and still I find myself worrying. Complaining. Fretting over things of which I have no control. I forgot to choose peace. I chose to place my focus on my problems rather than giving them to God and resting in His Peace.

Friend, I am reminded this morning that peace is a choice. Peace should not rely on our circumstances. Peace can not and should not be measured by our surroundings. We, like Peter, should choose peace in the middle of even the most dire situations. Peace can only be found in Jesus. You see, when we take our focus off of our problems and put it on Jesus, then and only then can He give us the Peace that we see in Peter. We can rest, right in the middle of our trial, knowing that God is working for us.

Will you choose peace today? Will you choose to stop looking at all that is wrong around you and focus on the One who holds you in His hand? It is a choice. Today, I choose peace. I choose the peace that passes all understanding. I choose to rest in Jesus today. I pray you will do the same.

 

 

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God Knows…

^“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Luke 12:6-7

Does life ever overwhelm you? Do you ever feel like you just can not keep up? I want to encourage your heart today by telling you that you are not alone.

This week has been a very busy week for us. Our little girl graduated preschool, we are entering the last few weeks at school, and life just seems to be in overdrive right now.

After school yesterday I had turned the television on to the music channels while I was doing my cleaning. As I sat down for just a minute to try to catch my breath from all the running, a song came on called, “He Knows My Name.” Oh, what peace filled my heart as I listened to the words, “I have a maker, He formed my heart”! At that moment God spoke to me, and I was reminded that no matter how crazy life may get God is still right there.

You see, sometimes life starts to move so fast that we feel we can not keep up, but God does not look at time as we do.
God is an all-seeing, all-knowing God. He sees from the beginning of time all the way through eternity. Does that comfort your heart this morning? It should.

When I think about God and His love for me, when I remember that He knows the very number of hairs on my head, I am so humbled.

I do not know what life holds for you right now or what trials you may be facing, but I do know that God is bigger than anything that this life can throw at you. God formed this world by simply speaking it into place. He formed you in your Mother’s womb before anyone even knew you existed. (Psalm 139:13) There is nowhere you can go that God can not see you, hear you, or minister to your heart.

I know that life can get busy. I know that there are times when you feel so overwhelmed by the speed of the world that you wonder how you will ever keep up.
I pray right now that God will send His Holy Spirit to comfort your heart as He has mine. I pray that you will let God’s love wash over you right now, and that in this moment you will realize that you are not just a speck in this crazy thing called life. You are precious. God has made you that way, and He loves you beyond understanding.

I wanted to share this with you today. This is the song that has brought me so much comfort the past couple of days. I pray as you listen to it that you will find peace and comfort as well.

God bless you today!

I Have a Maker( He Knows my Name)