A friend posted on Facebook, “Peace is…leaving town for the weekend, pressing pause on life, listening to the kids play and laugh together, that exhausted feeling from a day full of activity.” I commented without hesitation, “Peace is … knowing no matter what, everything is going to be okay.”
A few days later, she shared with me that my words were right on time. She explained that although she had posted about peace, she had very little of it that day and felt as if she was being ‘held together by scotch tape.” I could relate. As moms, trying to keep up with work, kids, school, extracurricular activities, and the laundry, the busy-ness of it all is enough to strip the peace right out of any saint’s soul. I was glad my comment encouraged her and knew it was all God. God is working in us and through us all the time. She started the thread on ‘peace’ but by the time I replied, she had none. Her Facebook post brought me peace and I responded in kind. My response then brought that peace back to her. It is a ripple effect. Isn’t God amazing? God gives us peace and then we can be peace for someone else. Man, God is good.
Did you know that peace is mentioned 429 times in the Bible. I think God is trying to show us the value of peace in our lives. God does not intend for us to rush around frenzied all the time. It’s not good for us or the people that cross our paths. Jesus states in John 16:33 NIV, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In John 14:27 NIV; Jesus literally gives us his peace. “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” And Philippians 4:7 NIV tells us that peace will actually protect our hearts and mind. Why would we not strive to find this peace?
Fortunately for us, scriptures tells us just how to find it. Proverbs 3:1-2 NIV says this, “Do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.”
I love how the Message puts it; “Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you;
take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
a long life lived full and well…
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God!”
Trust God. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do. Don’t forget what God has taught you. Store it up in your heart and this will bring you peace. Peace isn’t a Christmas wish. Peace is a moment by moment choice. Trust God in your life and watch as God’s peace radiates from you. Then, you can share your peace with others, just like a ripple. If I am peace and I share my peace with you, and you share your peace with your neighbor, how long would it take us before we really did experience peace on Earth. My prayer, “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” -M
