I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Here are a couple things we can bank on, in this life we are going to have trouble, trials, and sorrow. Sounds great doesn’t it? I don’t like this fact but it sure seems to be how things work. The better news is that we can have peace and not lose heart because God eventually makes it all right again in the end. I’m thankful for that, but man it’s hard in the meantime.
This week our fruit of the spirit focus is on peace. It couldn’t have been better timing really. Over the past week we’ve had several situations cross our paths that have, and continue to try and steal our peace. So on Monday morning when I was looking up verses to help Jenna (or better yet myself) understand God’s peace I was found these two verses and felt a weight lift from my shoulders.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7
I have a hard time continuing to keep my thoughts on Him and not myself or circumstances but this really is the key to peace. Trust Him and keep focused on Him. Sounds simple enough right? But it is a daily challenge for sure.
Here was another one I read as I was reading 2 Peter 1:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Don’t we often think that if our kids are obedient, the house is nice and orderly, our family has it all together, people do what we want them to, people we love aren’t suffering, we are financially secure, we have good health, and on and on and on, we’ll have much peace and be satisfied? Those things may help, don’t get me wrong, but the real source of peace comes through knowing (at a relationship level, not just knowing facts) Jesus. I feel like I have to learn this over and over and over but this week it’s been a good reminder for me.
Most of my day however is filled with just trying to keep the peace between my two kids and that is altogether it’s own challenge and a different kind of peace keeping. There’s always room to grow and learn for all of us around here.
What about you? Do you need a little peace in your life? Where do you look for it?